AN 80-year-old man has been honoured for a lifetime's work with the Roman Catholic Church.

Gerald Dunwell, of Lime Chase, Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, has been presented with the Bene Merenti medal and certificate in recognition of service to the Church.

The medal is awarded by The Vatican and was given to Mr Dunwell by the former Abbot of Ampleforth, the Right Reverend Timothy Wright, during a presentation at St Chad's Church in Kirkbymoorside, where Mr Dunwell has worshipped for 75 years.

During that time he has been a reader, Eucharist minister, and has been in demand as a compere for church whist drives.

Mr Dunwell's family have been associated with the Catholic Church for four centuries, originally coming from Grosmont