The latest addition to a north Norfolk church has been given a warm welcome.

The Bishop of East Anglia, the Most Rev Alan Hopes, told a packed congregation at Our Lady of Refuge Church in Overstrand Road, Cromer, that music was an 'integral and important part of worship', when he visited to bless a new organ.

In his first trip to the seaside town, Bishop Hopes led a special service celebrating the installation of the state-of-the-art electronic 'Eminent' organ, designed and voiced especially for the church.

As part of the service, organist Mary Henriksen demonstrated the new instrument, playing works by Purcell, Pachelbel and Buxtehude, with St Joseph's choir singing Alma Redemptoris Mater and Bright and Joyful is the Morn.

After blessing the organ with the assistance of Cromer parish priest Fr Denys Lloyd and bishop's secretary Fr Padraig Hawkins, Bishop Hopes chatted to Mrs Henriksen about the organ, also taking time to talk to congregation members.

Choirmaster Paul Henriksen said the new instrument, which was built by Welwyn Garden City company Cathedral Organs, would be of great benefit to the church, adding: 'Because sound is transmitted through five channels of sound and 17 speakers, it is virtually indistinguishable from a pipe organ.'