He has been at the spiritual heart of his community for 40 years, offering guidance and helping spread the good news about God.

And now Father David Bagstaff from the Catholic Church of St Henry Morse, Diss, has been honoured for his service with a special celebration. The parish celebrated with a 'one mass' Sunday and shared lunch, 40 years to the day since his ordination.

At the service, he said: 'I give thanks to God for his grace, without which we can do nothing.

'I'm offering thanks, together with you, for 40 years and for the hundreds of thousands of people I've connected with and walked alongside. It's a great day for thanksgiving.'

After the service, Father David was presented with an anniversary cake.

He also read the story of the Good Samaritan, and said the message of God was to reach out in love and service to all, especially those most in need, and those we don't normally want to connect with.

He said: 'In this celebration today, I give thanks to God for his grace, without which we can do nothing. I'm offering thanks, together with you, for 40 years and for the hundreds of thousands of people I've connected with and walked alongside. It's a great day for thanksgiving.'

Father David began his ministry as assistant priest at St Peter and All Souls, Peterborough and then became an assistant priest at St John's Cathedral in Norwich.

He then went to St Mary's in Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, and back to Peterborough as parish priest.

Sacred Heart, North Walsham, with Aylsham and Wroxham, was his next parish, until two years ago when he moved to Diss.