A married York vicar has resigned after forming a relationship with a parishioner.

The Rev Eric Lomax, who has been Vicar of Copmanthorpe, since last May, quit today following the breakdown of his marriage.

He resigned with immediate effect after a meeting today with the Bishop of Selby.

The Bishop, the Rt Reverend Humphrey Taylor, said it was "dreadful news" for the parish.

"The Archdeacon of York, the Rev Richard Seed, and I will talk with church members there as soon as possible, and I hope the process of healing their pain can begin soon."

A York diocesan spokesman said Mr Lomax, aged 37, had formed a relationship with a parishioner of his church, St Giles's, whom he declined to identify. Nor would he say if the parishioner was married.

"The Diocese of York is taking immediate steps to care for Mr Lomax's family and Parish, and for others affected by the situation," he said.

"Services and other aspects of church life in Copmanthorpe will be overseen by the Rural Dean of New Ainsty, the Rev Colin Cheeseman (Priest-in-Charge of Tockwith and Bilton) until a replacement for Mr Lomax is appointed." He said the process of selecting a new Vicar of Copmanthorpe would begin at once.

This was Mr Lomax's first posting as a vicar, having previously served as a curate at Goodshaw and Crawshaw Booth, in Greater Manchester.

He replaced the Rev Joe Stonehouse, who died in office while on holiday in Malta in August 1999.

The Rev Paul Rathbone, vicar of St Andrew's, Bishopthorpe, a colleague and nearest neighbour of Mr Lomax, said: "It's very distressing news. I was totally ignorant of this and I'm very, very sorry to hear it.

"Obviously I hope that the family will be able to accommodate themselves to the situation. It's a very sad and difficult situation."

Mr Lomax is understood to be married to Lesley, and the couple are said to have two young children.

He hit the national headlines in his previous post as curate in Lancashire, when he was reported to have had an "unholy row" with his neighbour, Manchester United footballer Phil Neville, about access to the vicarage in the grounds of the footballers' mansion. But when he left to come to Copmanthorpe, he dismissed such claims.

Maurice Staton, Methodist minister for Copmanthorpe, Bishopthorpe and neighbouring villages, who lives in Copmanthorpe, said: "I feel grieved because he's only been here less than a year and we were beginning to work together more closely. I know there's a great feeling of love and support for the people of St Giles's because their minister died on holiday less than two years ago and they had hopes for the new minister last May so this is a double bereavement for them and also to the two families involved."

Updated: 14:53 Friday, April 27, 2001