PRIME Minister Tony Blair's former parish priest was last night facing jail after groping a ten-year-old boy at his North-East vicarage.

The Reverend George Glover - known as "Father Eddie" to his parishioners - lured the youngster into his home and carried out an indecent assault.

Last night, child protection campaigners urged religious organisations to tighten up their safeguards on child abuse to prevent any further cases.

The former Anglican vicar of Mr Blair's parish in Trimdon, County Durham, was convicted by a jury yesterday at Newcastle Crown Court.

The court heard that while Glover was at St Chad's Church in Gateshead last year, he flouted church rules when he invited the boy into his home and was alone with the youngster.

The boy had called round to visit the vicar and his wife, Maria, after school on April 12, last year.

Penny Moreland, prosecuting, told the court that Glover's wife was not at home when the boy turned up.

She said: "Glover pulled him across on to his knee, put his hand down his trousers and touched him.

"The boy said he was frightened by what was happening and did not know what was going to happen next.

"He saw it was 4.30pm, said 'I've got to go for my tea', and ran away from the house.

The boy later told his mother, who complained to the authorities the next morning, and Glover was arrested.

Last night, he was remanded in custody until sentencing for his own safety, after concerns were raised during the trial that he might take his own life.

Glover will be sentenced on October 4 after reports are prepared. He showed no emotion as he was led to the cells.

In 1997, he faced a rare ecclesiastical hearing after a parishioner in Trimdon accused him of adultery while he was vicar at St Mary Magdelene church in the village.

Margaret Orpen accused him of having sex with her in his car and making her pregnant.

Glover, who was married with two daughters, could have been defrocked if he had been found guilty.

But the case was dropped, and Glover was cleared after pregnancy tests proved negative. Mrs Orpen was diagnosed as "delusional" by a psychiatrist.

Mrs Orpen said last night she would be seeing a solicitor in a bid to have her case against Glover reopened.

She said her own doctor had contested the psychiatrist's findings in the case.

"I want to see justice done," said Mrs Orpen.

Last night, Sue Woolmore, the NSPCC's policy advisor for the North of England, said: "The NSPCC encourages all organisations, including religious ones, to look very closely at what kind of safeguards they have in place to prevent these incidents.

"We advise parents with any concerns at all of this nature to keep shouting about it until someone listens. They can speak to police, social services, or ring our helpline if they have concerns.

"But the Church of England, and particularly the Catholic Church, are working with us on their child protection policies."

The Bishop of Durham has expressed his "deepest regret" to the boy's family

A Church statement read: "The diocese acted immediately and appropriately and accordingly to the prescribed Church of England procedures as soon as the complaint was made.

"Pastoral care and counselling have been provided to the family."

In addition to the sentence of the court, Glover will face disciplinary sanctions under ecclesiastical law.

*The NSPCC helpline is 0808-800 5000.