Police will take no further action following allegations dating back to early 1990s

A village church rector accused of a historic indecent assault in Islington will face no further police action.

The Rev Simon Sayers was arrested by the Met in January following the alleged offence in the early 1990s.

As a result the 55-year-old was suspended from his position at St James C of E Church in Emsworth, Hampshire, and St Thomas a Beckett in Warblington.

Scotland Yard confirmed there would be no further action taken after Rev Sayers, who was due to answer bail on Friday.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Portsmouth said: “We understand that the police investigation into the Rev Simon Sayers...has been dropped.

“When he was arrested in January, he was suspended from all parish duties by the bishop, in line with Church of England policy, while the investigation took place.

“Now that the police investigation is complete, the Diocese of Portsmouth needs to examine the details of the allegations for itself in order to determine the best way forward for Simon’s ministry and the parish.”