The Church of England has ruled a Canvey vicar must not be left alone with children.

A spokesman for the Chelmsford Diocese revealed the Rev David Tudor was running his parish as vicar of St Nicholas's Church under the strictest supervision.

The move follows an announcement by Essex County Council that it had issued guidelines to Canvey schools preventing him entering their premises because he might "pose a risk to children".

Ralph Meloy said Mr Tudor, who had charges ahgainst him dropped following an investigation by police on child protections issues and won an appeal against a sex assault conviction in 1988, was being carefully monitored and was still able to conduct his ministry in the parish.

He said: "Mr Tudor is currently working under the terms of a working agreement which has been developed by the diocesan child protection team, and which is clear that he has no unsupervised contact with children.

"He is in regular contact with the Bishop of Bradwell, the Rt Rev Laurie Green, who is seeking to ensure he is fulfilling the ministry entrusted to him, and everything he does is under the terms of the working agreement, which was drawn up in co-operation with the county council."

St Katherine's School is adhering to the council rules and has now been followed by Canvey County Junior School.

Mr Tudor has been removed from the governing bodies of both schools.

Ray Howard, a governor at Canvey County Junior School, said a meeting of the governors was convened after the county council issued its guidelines and concluded they must be adhered to.

Mr Howard, also a county councillor, said: "With the county council making that sort of ruling, the board must listen to it."

Mr Tudor, 51, had to step down while he was investigated by West Yorkshire police last year.

Shortly after the case was dropped, it was revealed he had spent six months in jail for allegedly having sex with underage girls.

An appeal court later quashed the conviction. But Mr Howard said people continued to support him, despite the controversy surrounding him.

He added: "David Tudor has a lot of support in the parish and I am very sad this has happened.

"While he was away from the church during the investigation, the church was empty. Now that he has returned, it is filling up again.

"This all happened a long time ago and I can only say that I have always found him to be a good man."