They used to mock him as 'Father Ted' - but that all stopped the night a young footballer nearly died in Preston...

Vinny Commons told his amazing life story at a special outreach meeting at Aughton Park Baptist Church on Thursday night, reflecting on the time his new found faith was really tested after the youngster collapsed at the PNE training ground.

"We were chatting to parents and players when I was aware of a commotion on the next training pitch, " said Vinny, who now works full time as an evangelist.

"Seconds later a Volvo raced to the scene and I ran over to see what was happening.

The player had suffered a cardiac arrest and I did the only thing I could do - pray!"

Seven seconds later the lad was revived after paramedic's shock treatment to his heart - and that 'Father Ted' moniker was forgotten as folk saw a speedy answer to Vinny's prayers.

Vinny - who lives in the 'House of Commons' in Southport - is also a keen potter and brought his potter's wheel to show how when anything is out of true it only gets worse, not better.

As a converted Roman Catholic, he has a passion for reaching folk with the good news and is well known in and around west Lancashire as a street evangelist with Young Life: younglife.org.uk/