The Reverend Raymond Burr, Vicar of South Shields, retires from full-time ministry within the church after his final service tomorrow.

He will lead worship at St Hilda's Church, in South Shields's Market Place, for the final time, before moving back to his home town Darlington with his wife Maureen.

Today the 64-year-old said: "The experience of ministering to the 'folks of Shields' has been a remarkable one, not least because it is such a diverse place right in the town centre setting, where my parish is situated.

"It's been marvellous being here for the past 13 years, and it is really down to the people of the town who have taken me to their hearts.

"It hasn't just been those who regularly attend St Hilda's Church, but all those from the surrounding area with whom I have shared so many things, especially those intimate moments in their lives."

Despite starting his life working at an engineering company, it was only when he regularly picked his children up from Sunday school in Darlington that he was steered towards the church, eventually becoming a priest in 1968.

St Hilda's Church is a grade II listed building, and much of Rev Burr's time has been spent ensuring its upkeep has been maintained for future generations.

He's liaised with the local council, along with English Heritage and other funding bodies, to help in his quest to maintain the beautiful church.

The father-of-three and grandfather-of-six added: "St Hilda's Church is one of those churches which lends its self so wonderfully well to the big occasion, such as Mayor's Sunday, big memorial services or times of remembrance, as well as celebration.

"I can still see in my mind's eye, 10 years down the line, the continuous stream of people who came to St Hilda's over the days following the death of Princess Diana, just simply to find a place to share with others a time of prayer, to light a candle or to lay some flowers, and of course to leave a message in a memory book."