SOME services have been cancelled in a scattered North Yorkshire group of parishes through lack of people to back up clergy serving eight churches.

In addition to services being cancelled in the Fountains group of parishes, near Ripon, some communion services have been changed to morning prayers.

This is because of difficulties in finding people to stand in for clergy who have been stretched to cover churches in the wide area.

The Rector of Fountains, the Reverend Robert Sellers, has sent out a letter to all parishioners explaining the dilemma for himself and his assistant curate, the Reverend Camilla Campling.

Following consultations with churchwardens and parochial church councils, the rector now secured widespread support for changes in the schedule of services.

His aim is to conduct more services himself, by having 8am services and more worship which can be conducted by lay people.

There is even provision for groups of lay people to take services which, says Mr Sellers, would offer more options and "variety for everyone".

The rota is being introduced starting next month.

In his letter to parisioners, the rector says: "It has been quite a task to produce the rota and I hope you do not find the changes at your particular church too drastic - rather that you find what we are trying to do is an attempt to maintain worshipping communities alive and thriving in all of our villages."

There will be 32 services each month at varying churches from next month.

Villages with year-round services are Aldfield, Dallowgill, Grewelthorpe, Kirkby Malzeard, Mickley, Sawley and Winksley. Services at the Chapel of the Ressurection, near Laverton, are held only in the summer.

Although Galphay and Grantley are part of the Fountains area they do not have their own churches.

The service changes are being introduced after Canon Howard Garside, of Ripon, announced his full retirement from taking services in the Fountains area. He had been conducting services on a part-time basis.