IT was a hard decision for him to take but Cowdenbeath's Baptist Church minister, Graham Kinloch, is set to move to Livingston to continue his career.

Rev Kinloch will be inducted as Ladywell Church's new minister on Saturday August 24 and will preach his first service the next day.

He admitted that it was a very tough decision to take: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my eight years in Cowdenbeath, and I feel the town's Baptist Church has a strong base.

"The congregation is embracing bringing children and young people into services and that will have long term benefits I am sure.

"It was certainly not an easy decision to make for our two children have been growing up here but I feel the time is right to move to the next chapter in my church journey.

"Before I came to Cowdenbeath I preached at Ladywell and found the congregation very welcoming so it is not a totally unknown path.

"The area is not unlike Cowdenbeath with similar social issues so I am looking forward to new challenge."

He feels that the town of Cowdenbeath has shown a lot of improvements over the past eight years: "The High Street is really changing for the better with the recent investment and the new Lidl and B&M stores will make a big difference to the north end.

"The opening of the Maxwell Centre has added so much to the facilities of the town and all in all I feel Cowdenbeath is very much on the up."

He had four seasons as the chaplain to the Blue Brazil, which he thoroughly enjoyed, and was also involved in the moves to set up the Cowdenbeath Food Bank, which has involved a number of members of the congregation.

Rev Kinloch added: "It has been a time when our small church has started our summer holiday club for children and the numbers involved have been very encouraging and we have been pleased to see a number of new faces coming to Church Street on a Sunday so I think there is lot to be positive about at Cowdenbeath Baptist Church."