A village priest has been removed from his parish after he was accused of sex attacks on young boys.

The Roman Catholic clergyman has been charged with nine counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency dating back ten years.

Father Jacks, 48, of St Joseph's Church, Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, was arrested and bailed last month.

Parishioners told of their shock at the allegations.

One, who asked not to be named, said: 'We were so shocked when we heard he had been moved away. It is the talk of the village. One minute he was here and the next he was gone."

Jacks appeared before Gateshead magistrates on Wednesday and was given conditional bail until Friday. The charges relate to people who are now adults.

Father Dennis Tindall, spokesman for the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, said: "When allegations of abuse are made we cooperate fully with the police and the statutory authorities to ensure the protection of children.

"Fr Jacks is currently out of the area and has no contact with parishioners and children."

Fr Jacks made the headlines in 1995 when his palm leaves for Palm Sunday didn't turn up due to a postal strike.

He did not know of the industrial action because he had given up television for Lent.