A father and son are both serving as priests in the Roman Catholic church for what is thought to be the first time for almost 900 years.

Fr Dominic Cosslett, who has begun work as a curate at St George's Church in Worcester, joins his father Ron Cosslett, 70, in the ministry.

Although the tradition of sons following their fathers into the ministry is well established in protestant denominations, the Catholic requirement for priests to be celibate rendered it impossible for centuries.

But a special dispensation from the Vatican allowing former Anglican clergy to continue to minister after defecting to Catholicism has allowed hundreds of married priests to serve within the church for the first time since the 12th century.

Although 36-year-old Fr Cosslett junior - himself a former Anglican - is celibate, his father, who is priest-in-charge at St Joseph's, Darlaston in the West Midlands, remains married to his wife Kath.

It is believed to be the first time that a father and son have both served as priests since the First Lateran Council in 1123 which formalised the requirement for priests to be celibate.

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