The Lord and Bideford Council

THE High Court ruling that prayers should not form part of a council meeting is, depending on your view, either a sensible progressive move or a victory for the forces of Satan and the end of Christian culture in this sceptre'd isle.

Amid all the flim-flam and fury about Bideford Council's court battle with a local atheist, no-one seems to have mentioned that, if religious members of the council wish to have a little prayer session ( or even a full scale mass with bishops and incense) before the council meeting begins, they are free to do so.

But I find it a bit odd that believers would call upon The Lord, in his infinite goodness and mercy, to guide their minds aright as they debate Mrs Scragett's planning application for a kitchen extension.

I would imagine, with seven billion souls upon this planet and a few billion more in Paradise to look after, the Lord has quite enough to do without being dragged into the small print of the Town & Country Planning Act.

I picture Him receiving the monthly invocation from Devon and burying His celestial head in His hands in despair and uttering: "Bloody hell, can't Bideford Council do anything on their own?"