The Diocese of Hereford is hoping to help regenerate rural areas with the appointment of Clare Phipps.

Church bosses launched a three year project to attract more visitors to its churches - most of which are listed buildings.

The post of Church Tourism Officer is funded by grants from Europe and the Countryside Agency.

It is hoped that by employing someone with professional promotion and marketing experience greater visitor numbers can be attracted through the doors of the county's churches.

In the first year the tourism officer will work with four Hereford parishes developing a strategy for opening up the churches, making visits more welcoming and interesting and linking them in with other nearby places of interest.