Bishop fuming at chimney arrest

A bishop has set up a website in protest at being arrested after putting his two sons on top of the chimney of his home.

The Most Reverend Jonathan Blake, 52, an archbishop in the Open Episcopal Church, was arrested after neighbours complained he had put his two young boys up the chimney.



The father-of-five insisted the children were safe, and taking part in a school challenge for book week - reading a book in an unusual place.

Nathan, eight, and Dominic, seven, were spotted perched one at a time on the chimney stack of their family home, reading a book. Neighbours called the police. He was arrested for child neglect.



"I didn't see it as unsafe because the boys are used to climbing," Mr Blake said afterwards. The kids were up there for about 10 minutes each as I took different pictures. I didn't think it would cause such a fuss."

Mr Blake claims he was punched in the back by a police officer and handcuffed "viciously tight". He was released on police bail and has since been told no charges are to be brought. "I have always been a great supporter of the police, but this nightmarish experience has shattered my trust in the police and their system of detention."