A biking bishop has been putting in the miles in order to meet his parishioners.

Reverend Richard Jackson has been undertaking a Lent Prayer Pilgrimage along his coastal parishes visiting people, places and parishes from Rye to Shoreham.

The Bishop of Lewes has visited every Church of England parish along the Sussex coast to carry out a prayer service in each of the churches he entered. He finished in Shoreham yesterday.

Bishop Jackson has been walking up to nine miles a day while covering longer distances on his trademark Harley Davidson motorbike, with the odd lift in a car thrown in for good measure.

The 54-year-old has now covered more than 40 churches with more than 40 miles between them.

Bishop Richard said: “It’s just one of those hare-brained ideas really. It’s basically about trying to mobilise people in the diocese and one of the important aspects of Christian life, which is praying. We are approaching Holy Week and Easter and the Diocese is planning to launch its new strategy in May so I wanted some time to visit people, places and parishes and to pray as I go.

“I have done similar tours in the past in my previous job but not this particular route.”

Right Reverend Jackson was ordained Bishop of Lewes at Westminster Abbey in May last year.