A JET-SETTING vicar has taken over at a popular Redbridge church after spending two years preaching in the Austalian outback.

Rev Graham Sawyer swapped the wild beauty of rural Victoria for leafy Woodford Green to take up the reigns at St Barnabas Church in Snakes Lane East after the departure of his long-serving predecessor, Father Alan Cross.

The 48 year-old, who is single and lives with his two beloved Dalmations, was born in the UK but holds joint British, Australian and New Zealand nationality after spending much of his career as an Anglican priest in the Antipodes.

The former BBC newsreader, who has visited nearly 50 countries during his travels, said he has finally decided to settle down.

He said: "I love travelling and seeing other countries and other cultures, but you reach a point when your priorities change and you want to be a bit more settled.

"I loved my time in Australia and New Zealand, and really see myself as an Australian even though I was born in Britain.

"It's interesting to have returned to the UK after all this time and see it through almost 'foreign' eyes. There are certainly more cameras about than when I was last here."

Rev Sawyer, who officially took over on Friday, said he has been touched by the welcome given to him by the local community.

He said: "The thing that has struck me most about this area is how welcoming it is.

"Woodford Green is just far enough outside the city to have retained its village feeling and that is really obvious here.

"We have a really diverse and outward looking congregation at this church which is just what I like.

"I'm looking forward to getting to know the congregation here a little better."