A NORTH-EAST church is launching an initiative to focus on the importance of prayer.

All Saints and Salutation Church, in Darlington, will run the 'Every Hour' project from New Year's Day.

Everyone associated with the church is being invited to pray for at least five minutes each day and sign up to a programme of time slots for when they will do so.

Church Vicar, and Area Dean, the Reverend Canon John Dobson, said: "The intention is to pray for the church, the community and the world every hour of every day, and to be united in our prayers wherever we are.

"Sometimes, we just need a nudge from a friend to make prayer and worship the priorities that they deserve to be.

"We have 340 members of the church electoral roll plus others who worship regularly or who regard All Saints' as their church. We would like to involve the vast majority of these people and others if they would like to join us."

The Church is undertaking the Campaign as part of the Diocese of Durham's Priorities for 2014 and the 'Preparing The Ground For Growth' project which sets out to promote growth of Churches and communities across the diocese For more information, call 01325-469892 or email office@allsaintsblackwell.org.uk