A VICAR is to realise a dream which has been on hold for the last 16 years and join the Royal Marines.

The Rev Mark Allsop already enjoys a reputation as an action-man vicar in his rural parish.

He rides a motorcycle, has done a free-fall parachute jump for charity, runs five to six miles every day and regularly visits a gym.

Now, he has told his flock at St Martin's Church, Kirklevington, that God has called him to the commandos.

The clergyman said: "I wanted to join up, but my wife had our daughter, (now 16 years old), and I decided not to, but to stay at home.

"I went into parochial ministry, then I thought I was too old. It was only recently when I was praying and re-assessing my life that I thought to look at the services and in particular the Royal Navy."

The one-time fitter and psychiatric nurse is priest-in-charge of Kirklevington, Low and High Worsall and the hamlet of Picton.

Mr Allsop, a clergyman for the last 11 years, is now to be a chaplain in the Royal Marines.

In stark contrast to the green fields and hedgerows of his parish, the clergyman, who is 42 this year, could be giving spiritual comfort in Afghanistan's Helmand Province next year.

First, he faces a gruelling eight months of physical training to win a coveted green beret, competing with young soldiers half his age.

He said he had the support and blessing of the Bishop of Whitby, the Rt Rev Robert Ladds.

"It's a new chapter for me, for this ministry. But God wants me to do it," he said.

"I have a friend who is in the marine corps, who I trained with, and he said the age limit had been raised. I went to Portsmouth and had all the interviews. I managed to get through them and was offered a commission."

The clergyman said he had talked over his move with wife, Christine, and daughter Emily.

He added: "We have been discussing it and talking together. Obviously, without their support I could not continue my ministry. It has been announced in the parish. Everyone is quite emotional, but very supportive."