A former Telegraph & Argus reporter is to be honoured by the Church in recognition of his religious work.

The Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David Smith, has today announced that former T&A sports writer David Markham, pictured, is one of four Honorary Canons who will be installed at Bradford Cathedral next month.

Mr Markham, 61, who retired from the T&A in December after a career spanning 44 years, said it was a timely appointment.

"It is something I'm very proud and honoured to be asked to do and I'm very much looking forward to my new role," he said.

"I'm gradually getting used to having all this extra time on my hands and this role has come along at an ideal time for me."

Mr Markham, of Bingley, is a life-long member of Holy Trinity Church, where he is an altar server, and a regular contributor to the town's churches magazine, Connect Five.

For the past nine years he has edited the Bradford Diocesan newspaper Newsround, and is a member of the Parochial Church Council and a church representative with the Airedale Deanery Synod.

In his new role Mr Markham, pictured, said he would help to run the Cathedral and take part in ceremonial occasions.

Married to Susan and the father of sons Philip, an accountant, and Paul, a groundsman at Bradford and Bingley sports club, Mr Markham covered Bradford City over a 27-year period at the T&A.

Educated at Bingley Grammar School, he started his career on the Bingley Guardian in 1957 before moving to the T&A.

He left to join the Yorkshire Post in 1966 and the following year helped set up a new evening paper in Luton before returning north to the Keighley News.

He returned to the T&A as a sports journalist and also covered league cricket in the city.

The others being installed as Honorary Canons are the Reverend Adrian Botwright ,who has been Rector of Holy Trinity, Skipton, since 1994; the Reverend George Moffat, who is in his ninth year as Team Rector of Manningham, Bradford and a Chaplain to the Queen since 2000; and David Thornton, a member of Bishop's Council.

They will be installed on Sunday, February 17.