A FORMER Bishop of Bradford has commented on the resignation of Justin Welby.

The Archbishop of Canterbury quit earlier today following sustained pressure over his handling of a Church of England-linked abuse case.

The independent Makin Review concluded that barrister and Christian camp leader John Smyth might have been brought to justice had the archbishop formally alerted authorities in 2013.

The Rt Revd Nick Baines, the first Bishop of Leeds, an area covering West Yorkshire and the Dales - has now issued a statement on the resignation.

The Rt Revd, who was the Bishop of Bradford between 2011 and 2014, said: “I respect the decision by the Archbishop of Canterbury to resign his office.

"In doing so, he takes personal and institutional responsibility for the Church of England’s failures in relation to safeguarding.

"The Makin review made for very sobering reading.

"My concern now is to ensure that safeguarding practice in the Diocese of Leeds is the best it can be and that we improve where we lack.

"The focus in all of this must be the support of survivors of abuse.

"They remain in my prayers, as do the archbishop and his family.”