A former hospital consultant who swapped bodies for souls has been appointed priest-in-charge of Denholme, Harden and Wilsden.

The Reverend Dr Roger Brooks worked at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary for 17 years and was a consultant anaesthetist in charge of intensive care until his ordination two years ago.

Since then he has been the curate at St Mary's Church, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

"I'm surprised but very pleased to be invited to be priest-in-charge of Denholme, Harden and Wilsden," he said.

"I'm very much looking forward to going there and helping to increase the profile of the churches in their communities and building on the lay work which has already been very active in the parishes."

Mr Brooks, 56, is married to Mary, a facial surgeon, and has two sons, Peter, 16, and Michael, 15. He said: "I had a strong feeling of calling to the ordained ministry which had been with me for a long time.

"In many ways it was more of a shock to my sons than to me. It was a big change for them."

Mr Brooks believes his 25 years working as a doctor had helped him in his new role.

"As a consultant you get used to dealing with distressed people and being alongside them at these times. You become substantially unshockable.

"You also work as a member of a team, which is probably the most useful thing," he said.

The Venerable Malcolm Grundy, Archdeacon of Craven, said: "Roger's past experience as a consultant in the NHS has given him experience which equips him well to develop collaborative working between the parishes."

Mr Brooks, originally from Kent, trained as a doctor in Nottingham and worked in Edinburgh, Portsmouth and Sheffield before moving to Huddersfield.

Before being ordained, he completed a three-year, part-time Northern Ordination course in Manchester

It is expected Mr Brooks' induction will take place in the autumn and his replacement at St Mary's Church will be decided during the summer.