A former vicar who has moved in with a married parishioner while her husband is still living there today claimed the Church was to blame for the unusual living arrangements.

Eric Lomax, who quit as Vicar of Copmanthorpe after he began a relationship with parishioner Liz Carter, said he had no choice but to live part-time at her home while her husband Tony still spends some time there after the Church had taken away his home and told him to go.

Mr Lomax, who approached the Evening Press today to set the record straight, asked: "How can I go anywhere with no home, no money and no job?".

He suggested the Church needed to learn about forgiveness and accept reality.

Mr Lomax spoke out after a Sunday newspaper carried lurid allegations about his private life which he strongly denied.

He appealed for people to leave him and his loved ones alone, saying the past few weeks had been a "nightmare" as he had been dogged by stories about his private life and as his children, and his partner's children, had been bullied.

Asked how Copmanthorpe residents had treated him, he said: "A lot of people have been great, but adults can be bullies too."

Of the Sunday newspaper article, Mr Lomax said: "The inaccuracies are being investigated by my solicitors and the Press Complaints Commission, so I don't want to comment on them too specifically.

"There is a quote about cavorting in the garden. What that means I don't know. I have sat in the garden and drank tea. That is it.

"There were other things about mobile phone text messages. One said I sent a text when out with the Girl Guides. I have never even seen the Girl Guides in Copmanthorpe."

Mr Lomax said the Church Of England's reaction when he told them about his relationship was the main reason behind his living arrangements.

He said: "I have got no choice. The church took my home away, offered me no alternative and told me to go.

"It is a complex situation. When this happens people can move houses. Here, we only have one house between three of us.

"Sometimes I am not there and he is hardly there. People say it is some sort of threesome, but that does not exist. I barely see him. I am looking for alternative accommodation."

Mr Lomax said he hopes to return to the church, adding: "I would like someone to employ me. When the church learn about forgiveness, accepting reality and human beings, then I understand there is a chance I could return."

Martin Sheppard, director of communications for the York Diocese, said: "We will not be commenting on anything that Eric Lomax has said to you."

Updated: 15:36 Monday, June 25, 2001