YOUNG pupils were shocked to discover the Bishop of Blackburn earns less than their headteacher.

The Rt Rev Nicholas Reade went back to school yesterday to visit Salesbury Church of England Primary School, where he met staff and pupils as part of a programme to familiarise him with the diocese.

He was made Bishop of Blackburn in March after moving from Lewes and Hastings diocese, where he was archdeacon, to the Salesbury area. Since then he has visited every area of Lancashire.

At the Lovely Hall Lane school, the bishop told pupils about the clothing he wears and asked 11-year-old Genevieve Ladd to model the garments during assembly.

During a tour of the school with headteacher Peter Corbett and the Rev John Hartley, of St Peter's Church, pupils asked the bishop about more his role.

James Holt, nine, asked: "Do bishops get a lot of money?" The bishop laughed before replying: "No. We do get a lot more than an ordinary parish vicar because we have more responsibility but it's not a lot of money. It's less than a headteacher."

When Thomas Clarkson, 10, asked if it was fun being a bishop he was told: "A lot of the time yes, there are a lot of different things that we do and I really like the variety.

"It's not all a bundle of fun though as you have to take the rough with the smooth as with any employment."

After his tour, the bishop said he was hugely impressed with the school.

"It is very different to the school I went to," he said."The modern technology and the way the pupils relate so warmly to the staff is particularly impressive.

"The way I was taught in the 50s and 60s was very much chalk and talk with very strict discipline.

"But I made many life long friends, some of whom came to my consecration in March, and I have lots of happy memories of the pranks we used to play" -- although he refused to divulge any.

Mr Corbett said he had been very pleased with the visit and that the pupils had thoroughly enjoyed it. "He is not only a neighbour, living in the Salesbury parish, but we talk about the bishop in school and his work ,so it was good for them to meet him. It is also good for them to hear from someone who is so proud to be a Christian."