A rector has blamed a thriving car boot sale for declining attendances at his Bingley church.

Reverend Stephen Kelly from All Saints' Church says worshippers are so frustrated by the lack of parking spaces around Keighley Road that they are staying away.

Since it opened at the old Auction Mart site four and a half years ago, the car boot sale run by Michelle Holmes has become a major attraction.

And Mr Kelly says that in the last two years the problems have become so acute that attendances on a Sunday have dropped by nearly ten per cent.

In 1995 there were 81 adults on average attending each Sunday rising to 92 in 1996. The figure rose to a peak of 99 the following year but then declined to 97 in 1998 and 90 last year.

He said: "I am absolutely sure that the decline is down to people not being able to park. I have heard them say that they have gone home because they couldn't find anywhere to park.

"The Diocese of Bradford has a challenge to try and increase attendances by five per cent a year. In Bingley we were succeeding until the car boot sale got into its stride. It's definitely had an effect on us and other churches. It's quite annoying."

He added that the problems were exacerbated if there was an event such as a baptism which generated a large number of worshippers in cars, particularly if they were elderly.

Sergeant Richard Czoronowal, of Keighley Road Traffic Police, said: "The car boot sale at the old Auction Mart site is very popular - the best part of a few thousand people must go - and I suspect that there will be some kind of problem for those who attend the church.

"Cars can be parked legally on the A650 though officers do make spot checks on any which are parked illegally. It's an ongoing problem. The ones that are parked illegally we do something about."

Councillor Eileen Sinclair, (Lab, Bingley) said: "He could have a point. If people can't park they will make other arrangements and go somewhere else.

"I will try to raise the matter at this Friday's meeting of the Town Centre Partnership but he really needs to talk to his parishioners and maybe send out a questionnaire to see what the reasons are for people staying away."

But Mrs Holmes said: "I don't think it makes any difference. Church attendances are declining anyway. I don't think parking has anything to do with going to church and there are car parks fairly close by."

Jimmy Kunz who owns the Auction Mart site added: "I couldn't care less. People don't go to church anymore anyway."

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