THE Rev Jamie Allen has contacted the office of the Bishop of Salisbury as he and his family take three months' leave of absence from the parishes of Seend, Poulshot and Bulkington.

The Bishop's senior chaplain, the Rev Nicholas Papadopulos, said: "Jamie has been in touch. He and the family are well and enjoying their break.

"We cannot say where they are because the whole point of the leave of absence is for them to find themselves again without any kind of media intrusion."

Parishioners were shocked last week by the news that Mr Allen, who featured in a BBC2 series A Country Parish earlier this year, was leaving the area for three months following an interview he had requested with the Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Rev David Stancliffe.

Canon John Record, the Rural Dean of Devizes, has been keeping an eye on Mr Allen's parishes and is happy that all is well.

He said: "Everything is fine. All the baptisms, weddings and funerals are taking place as planned and the work of the parish is continuing as usual.

"Jamie's work with children and young people is in abeyance anyway because of the school holidays but I am sure he will pick up where he left off when he gets back."

Dan Baber, whose reconciliation with his brother featured strongly in the TV series, was especially shocked at the announcement.

Mr Baber said: "He is a lovely chap. We all know the pressure he has been under with the TV series on top of the normal workload of running a parish.

"The programme was such a success he is known wherever he goes. I hope he and his family manage to get some time to themselves wherever they've gone."