A 'miracle healer' is coming to Oxford, professing to heal the sick and cure the afflicted.

The Rev Melvin Banks will hold his 'Miracle Healing Service' in the chapel of the Word Fountain Christian Ministries, in Hollow Way, Cowley.

Mr Banks said he had restored health to hundreds, including those in wheelchairs and the deaf during visits to 50 countries.

Mr Banks said: "I am an ordinary man, but God works through me. The Bible does say that until Jesus returns he would send out his disciples of every age.

"I don't know why I was chosen to lay hands on people. I often say that when I get to heaven it will be the first thing I ask him."

He said as a child he was saved from death by the power of prayer when he fell into a river and almost drowned.

When he was pulled out and found to have no pulse, Mr Banks said his mother held him to her chest and prayed life back into him.

But, according to the 70-year-old, from Chippenham, his calling came later — while watching a film in his local cinema when a vision of Jesus appeared in the seat in front of him.

He said: "I immediately went out and started preaching the word of God and gradually people began to be healed. People have described the feeling as a tremendous heat or power flowing through them. Some people will walk away and appear to be completely cured and some people will say that after a meeting they felt some relief. But it would be silly of me to claim to be able to heal everyone."

Mr Bank does not charge, although donations are often made by service goers.

Ministries Pastor Dupe Adefala said: "We are very excited to have Rev Banks here.

"We believe that it will result in large numbers finding faith and healing in God."

Services are on Saturday from 6pm to 9pm and on Sunday from 11am to 2pm.