A priest has been suspended from an Oxfordshire church after claims of sexual abuse involving a young boy.

Father Ted O'Malley, 53, has been asked to leave St Joseph's Catholic Church in Banbury while detectives investigate.

The allegations are understood to involve a former pupil of a school in Coventry, where Father O'Malley worked in the 1970s and 1980s.

The Archbishop of Birmingham, the Rt Rev Maurice Couve de Murville, travelled to Banbury to offer comfort to shocked churchgoers. He promised counselling would be offered to those struggling to come to terms with the situation.

He said: "In accordance with guidelines issued by the diocese, he has been placed on administrative leave while these allegations are investigated by the Child Protection Unit.

"The alleged offences are purported to have taken place some years ago and do not relate to Father O'Malley's current duties."

The police probe is being carried out by Cumbria Police, where the alleged victim now lives.

Father Ted, as he is known to his flock, has been a priest for more than 30 years and was closely involved with the primary school attached to the church in Coventry. He also helped found St Joseph's nursery school.

The mother of a four-year-old at St Joseph's nursery school said: "Most of the parents and pupils worship the ground he walks on. It's more like Saint Ted than Father Ted. "The parents have sent him a card but I couldn't sign it. We don't know the truth yet. We haven't been told much about the allegations."

Churchgoers attending Mass at St Joseph's yesterday said they were praying for Father Ted. One dad with a young child at the service said: "People here just do not believe what has happened. Father Ted was well respected."

Another man, who also asked not to be named, said simply: "Father Ted is a good man."

Yesterday's service was taken by Father Gary Mantle, a priest at St John's Church in Banbury.

The Archbishop told churchgoers last week: "Administrative leave is not an indication of punitive measures. It is not to be seen as implying guilt or innocence.

"It is an accepted way in our society of having a prudent willingness to resolve serious questions of improper behaviour."

He asked them to remember their priest in their prayers along with "all those concerned in this very sad situation. Support and counselling will be offered to all those involved." He said a priest would shortly be appointed to look after St Joseph's.

Yesterday's Sunday People newspaper said hHeadteacher Sister Susan broke the news to 190 pupils, aged four to 11, at the school. She said: "I told them that someone who knew Father Ted said that maybe he had done something wrong and while it's being sorted out he has been asked to leave by the Archbishop.

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