A "REVERED" vicar who took his final service last Christmas has died aged 86.

Although the Rev Leslie Guest was 48 when he was ordained, he had a lifelong dedication to the church, being involved with a Sunday school and acting as a lay reader in Wyre Forest before he became a vicar.

Born the youngest of 10 children in Kidderminster during the First World War, Mr Guest began his ministry in 1963 in Malvern after working for a Kidderminster building firm and Stourport power station.

He retired to his home town in 1984 but continued to take services at churches throughout Wyre Forest, including St George's and St Mary's in Kidderminster.

"He was well-known and very revered. He had a terrific rapport with young and old and he always had a great following," said daughter-in-law Peggy Guest.

"Joining the church was his ambition from an early age. He had great historical and church knowledge - the church was his life."

Vicar of St George's Church, the Rev Nick Barker, said: "Leslie was a caring and thoughtful priest."

He died at Westley Court Nursing Home, Cookley, on Saturday and his funeral is on Tuesday at St Mary's Church, Kidderminster, at 11.30am.