A COTSWOLD vicar is giving his congregation a series of sermons on the subject of sex.

The Rev Stephen Wookey, who is vicar of St David's Church in Moreton, is tackling issues such as the institution of marriage, sex outside marriage, adultery and homosexuality in five sermons during January and February.

He began last Sunday with a sermon on the Godliness of life.

Mr Wookey, who also includes the parishioners Batsford, Todenham, Lower Lemington and Longborough with Sezincote among his flock, said: "There is nothing dramatic about this. It is part of the normal church teaching."

The sermons, which will be given as part of the 7pm Sunday evening service every second and fourth Sunday of the month, come at a time when their is much debate in the Anglican church about sexual matters, particularly with the appointment of openly homosexual bishop Gene Robinson in New Hampshire.

However, Mr Wookey stressed this was not the reason for giving the sermons. "We thought we should do it for a long time, We don't want to make too big a song and dance about this," he said.