A vicar who was suspended after having sexual contact with a teenager has been banned for life from the clergy after admitting another "intimate sexual relationship" with a married parishioner.

Rev Simon Sayers exchanged sordid texts messages with the woman after she approached him for pastoral support.

Mr Sayers, formerly of the Warblington with Emsworth parish in Hampshire, began the “intimate sexual relationship” with the married woman in autumn 2010 and sent her "many sexually explicit texts," a Church of England (CoE) tribunal heard.

"I'm home now but really enjoyed you sitting astride me sans panties,” the priest wrote in one message.

Another said: "You too are the most passionate, sexy, skilled and sensuous lover and my body is yours, my heart and soul are yours forever."

The woman told the tribunal that she thought she and Mr Sayers were in love.

The 55-year-old admitted to the affair in a letter to the private hearing which he did not attend. The tribunal deemed him guilty of misconduct.

"During the autumn of 2010 there was a brief but shameful affair with Mrs X. We were both facing painful issues, and mutual comfort and support strayed appallingly into an affair,” Mr Sayers said in his letter.