Baptist minister Simon Minshull and his family will be leaving Ledbury in the late winter or early spring, for a new life in Sweden.

Mr Minshull, of the Homend, is married to Susannah, who is Swedish and an active member of the Ledbury and Stromstad Twinning Group.

Mr Minshull said that the experience would give their children, who already speak Swedish, the ability to move easily between the two cultures for the rest of their lives.

He added that it was the family's intention to live in Sweden for around a year and a half.

Mr Minshull spoke of this time as "like a sabbatical" for him, and afterwards he would consider his way forward.

But he spoke of his desire to continue with his ministry, and added: "In the time I have been a Baptist minister here, I have never had a sabbatical."

Mrs Minshull has already secured the offer of full-time work in Sweden.

He said he would consider teaching English to Swedish people during evenings, and he had already made contact with language schools.

He said that it would be possible for him to continue his ministry in Sweden.

But although he does speak Swedish, he felt that it was important to understand the full nuances of the language, to act most effectively in that position.

The family have already agreed that, on their return to England, wherever they are posted they will not lose touch with Ledbury. They plan to visit friends here at least once or twice a year.