RADIO listeners in Hereford and Worcester are to be asked whether they are more likely to use the word 'Jesus' as the name for the son of God or as a swearword.

It is one of seven questions from this year's national Churches Advertising Network radio campaign, which asks listeners what they think about when they think of Christmas - whether it's Santa or Jesus, peace or war, turkey or baby.

Local churches have brought slots on radio stations in the two cities as well as in Birmingham, Coventry, Shrewsbury, Stratford-upon-Avon, Telford and Wolverhampton to air the 20-second commercials.

Radio personality Simon Mayo will be asking the questions, and listeners will be invited to send their answer by text message to 81025. The results of the questions will be regularly updated at www.

hellojesus.co.uk

Anni Holden, director of communications for the diocese of Hereford, said she thought the new interactive approach would work.

She said: "Hopefully, it will get young people talking and thinking about the questions, but in a light-hearted way.

"People send and receive texts all the time, so we're not asking them to do anything out of the ordinary. I expect this would be a more natural approach for most of our audience than going to church."

The ads will be heard on Beacon Radio, Telford FM and Wyvern FM, the Independent radio stations that are heard in the diocese.

Nationally, the campaign is expected to reach around 10 million listeners in the run-up to Christmas. People who respond to the adverts will receive a humorous text message in return pointing them to a special website, part of www.

rejesus.co.uk