Police have charged a vicar with possessing indecent pictures of children.

Church in Wales vicar the Reverend Richard Hart, of Beguildy, Knighton, Mid Wales, was suspended from duties after his arrest in January.

The 59-year-old will appear at Brecon Magistrates' Court later this month.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokeswoman said he was charged with "18 specimen charges relating to indecent images of children".

A 40-year-old woman arrested with him in January remains on bail.

Hart had been chairman of governors at Beguildy Voluntary Controlled Church in Wales Primary School, but that role was also suspended in January.

A Church in Wales spokeswoman said: "During the course of this sensitive and protracted inquiry, the Church has co-operated fully with the police and other agencies involved, in line with our stringent child protection policy."

Hart was the priest in charge of Beguildy, Heyope, Llangynllo and Bleddfa before his suspension.

He will face magistrates on May 29.

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