A Bicester vicar has bought himself something he has always wanted for Christmas -- a black London taxi cab.

Rev David Bouskill

The Rev David Bouskill will drive it round his patch in the cold, wet weather and ride his Triumph 900cc motorbike in the warm.

Mr Bouskill, 30, said: "I have always wanted a London taxi cab. When I go to London, I always have a ride in one. London taxis are as iconic in London as the red Routemaster double-decker buses. I think it must be their chunky shape."

Mr Bouskill bought the taxi cab from his London taxi driver father-in-law because he knew it was going at a reasonable price, which he declined to disclose.

He added: "I went to his home in Hornchurch on the day he retired after 16 years as a cabbie. The taxi was going to retire with him.

"I am delighted with it. The cab is 16 years old too and has 260,000 miles on the clock, which is about as far as travelling to the moon and a good way back."

Mr Bouskill, of Ravencroft, on the Langford Village housing estate in Bicester, will use the cab to get around the town and Launton, Caversfield and Bucknell parishes, which are all part of the Bicester team ministry.

He added: "The taxi will be brilliant to park in small car parks at churches as they have good turning circles to enable taxis to turn round in London streets. As there is a lot of room in the back, the taxi will be ideal for picking up odd-shaped articles for church bring-and-buy sales. I will use the taxi in bad weather and the motorbike in the good."

Mr Bouskill's wife Claire drives their other car, a Ford Fiesta.

He joined the Bicester team ministry in September from Henley on Thames.