Church leaders have announced the appointment of a social worker and an accountant as honorary lay canons of Bradford Cathedral.

Janet Bower, from Keighley, and Ian Fletcher, from Heaton, will be installed at a ceremony on Sunday, June 3.

Mrs Bower is a social worker, a member of the Church of England's General Synod and an active member of the Mothers' Union. She worships at Christ Church, Lothersdale.

"Bradford Cathedral is very much part of the city, so I'm looking forward to greater contact with the inner city, but I also want to help increase the contact between the cathedral and the rural areas of the diocese.

"I think my aim would be that throughout the Diocese we think and talk less about 'the cathedral' and much more about 'our cathedral'."

Ian Fletcher is a senior partner in a Bradford practice of chartered accountants. He is also a member of Bradford Diocesan Synod and is involved in the parishes of St Paul's, Manningham, and St Barnabas, Heaton.

He said: "This is a good way of linking the cathedral with the community, and in a way this is an honour for the local parishes rather than for me."

The Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David Smith, said: "They have both contributed to the life of the diocese through their experience and expertise, and will be very welcome additions to the cathedral community."