A Church of England bishop has urged Christians to recognise the "motherhood" of God.

The Bishop of Bolton, the Rt Rev David Gillett, said God's motherly role was an established element in Christian belief and should be emphasised to counter masculine images.

In the latest issue of Crux, the Manchester diocesan magazine, the bishop said that Mothering Sunday, which falls on March 26, was a good time to explore the theme.

"Some dismiss the idea as a modern heresy linked with the rise of feminism," he said.

"But recognising the motherly role of God has an honoured place within Christian spirituality and is an important corrective to overlie dominant masculine images."