AN "innovative" vicar who has come up with lots of ways to bring a community together has received the Evening Mail's Bouquet of the Week.

The Reverend Jo Northey has been running a hugely successful family cafe at St Aidan's Church every Wednesday afternoon for the Newbarns community in Middle Hill, Barrow.

The drop-in sessions bring residents together to share a cuppa and cake so they can spend time making new friends in a friendly environment.

The team vicar for St Aidan's, St George's with St Luke's and St Perran's, has also been busy with Messy Church, which is held on the first Sunday of every month at St George's from 3pm to 5pm, and the All Age Service, family fun sessions held on the second Sunday of every month at St Aidan's from 9.30am.

Speaking after receiving the Bouquet of the Week, the 41-year-old said: "It seems like there's a need for this.

"We started it very informally on a Wednesday. We just invited everybody at Newbarns School and our toddler group and our community contacts to come and join us.

"The cafe is for the family so there's always something for the kids to do like some crafts and board games.

"It's such a lovely community. I love living up here so it's nice to have somewhere people can sit down and have a brew. 

"It's all part of a bigger vision to build a lot of family fun and bring the community together."

The cafe puts on regular themed activities and special menus, with the most recent being a cream tea, featuring delicious sandwiches and scones.

Rev Northey has been a vicar in Barrow for the last two years but trained in the town three years prior to then.

She was nominated for the bouquet by cafe volunteer, Angela Rogers.

She said: "Jo is trying lots of new initiatives to bring the Newbarns community together such as the family cafe she runs each Wednesday and the majority of the time she cooks and provides the food for it.

"She is innovative and always looking to try new things to bring the sense of community to Newbarns.

"She thoroughly deserves the bouquet."