A priest who quit after a scandal involving his relationship with a drug addict has taken up a new post in Sussex.

Father Alan Sharpe left his Hove parish in March last year following claims he had been supplying David Walker, a young heroin and crack addict who lived with him at the vicarage, with money to buy drugs.

But now it has emerged Fr Alan has been leading church services in the parishes of Sedlescombe and Whatlington, near Battle.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Chichester said it did not have a problem with Fr Alan at Sedlescombe and Whatlington.

He said: "He is retired and he has been looking after the church in his retirement.

"It's light duties and lots of retired clergy do it.

"He's retired so he's no longer paid."

He added: "The allegations made concerned his work with St Patrick's, the homeless hostel, rather than his work as a parish priest, and even they weren't substantiated allegations."

Fr Alan, a priest of more than 25 years, also stepped down as chairman of the Lornica Trust, the charity he founded which runs the St Patrick's night shelter in Cambridge Road, Hove, following the revelations in the BBC documentary.

Two members of staff also resigned from the charity in 2007 following serious allegations.

Valerie Wright, chairwoman of Sedlescombe Parish Council told The Argus that people should leave Fr Alan alone.

She said: "It's not very nice chasing this guy, whatever he's done or not done.

The clergyman was quoted on the BBC programme as saying: "Everything I have done has been open, as a genuine, heartfelt Christian response to the needs of marginalised people."