A senior rural clergyman in the Church of England has been arrested on suspicion of voyeurism.

Rev Martin Thrower, aged 55, is a widely-respected Rural Dean and Rector of St Mary's Hadleigh in Suffolk, a beautiful Grade One-listed medieval church built from flint and which is regarded as akin to the "minster" of its large rural deanery of 22 churches.

Thrower was suspended by the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich diocese after he was arrested in early August at Buttermarket shopping centre in Ipswich. He has been bailed to return to Suffolk police in October.

A spokesman for the diocese said: "I can confirm that The Very Rev Martin Thrower, Rector of Hadleigh, Layham and Shelley, and also rural dean of Hadleigh, has been arrested by Suffolk Constabulary for voyeurism.

"He has been suspended from all offices within the diocese until further notice. We have made arrangements to look after his church duties and to offer support to his parishes at this difficult time.

"We will make no further comment while the police investigation is ongoing. Our thoughts and prayers are very much with everyone affected by this situation."

Thrower, whose church has published a series of interviews with him on its YouTube channel, is married with three children.

His wife Pauline Thrower told the East Anglian Daily Times: "It is with great sadness that we find ourselves in the situation we are now in.

"Whilst this has come as a shock to us as a family we are all supporting Martin with unconditional love at this difficult time."

A parish spokesman said: "Our congregation has reacted with real sadness to this and our prayers and thoughts are with both Martin and his family, and those affected by this. We are thankful that the diocese have made arrangements to look after Martin's church duties and to offer support to his parishes at this challenging time."

Thrower helped to modernise St Mary's three years ago when he won a battle with conservationists to remove some pews from the church to make it more flexible as a worship space.