Sheppey's celebrity cleric the Rev Cindy Kent is back on the air.

The former singer with 1960s group The Settlers was one of the original team on Christian radio station Premier and is part of the Sheppey FM Sunday morning religious round-up.

But now she has been offered a new slot on easy-listening internet station Serenade Radio.

She said: "I fancied getting involved in something completely different and Serenade is just that. It plays great songs written at a time when quality was paramount and in a gentler, more carefree world. Listening to a good song, well sung, often refreshes the soul.

"I will be playing anything from Frank Sinatra to The Carpenters, Bing Crosby to Bread and Ella Fitzgerald to Michael Buble."

Thanks to the marvels of modern technology she can broadcast from her home on the Island.

She said: "It's interesting making programmes while watching the sea from my bungalow in Minster. The only problem is that sometimes the dreaded doorbell rings."

She added: "Serenade is different but I do like a challenge. In our fast-paced, modern world it's important to have an escape and Serenade Radio is just that.”

Station manager Andy Marriott said: "I have secretly been a big fan of Cindy since she was in The Settlers. They recorded my favourite TV theme The Lightning Tree for Follyfoot in 1971."

Cindy left the hit pop-folk group in 1973 to pursue a career in radio. She began on BBC Radio 4 before moving to Radio 2 to present a Sunday morning gospel show sometimes with Sir Cliff Richard.

She later moved to London station LBC, Radio Hallam and Capital Radio which she left to join the start-up Christian radio station Premier in 1994.

Her first session with Serenade will be this afternoon (Saturday) at 3pm when she stands in for David Lloyd, following her former colleague Stuart Linnell from their days at Sheffield station Radio Hallam.

Mr Marriott said: "Soon Cindy will have her own show with us."

Cindy moved to Sheppey five years ago and leads a multi-faith team which presents a half-hour Sunday show on community station Sheppey FM. She said: "The station recognised a need after the first lockdown a year ago and has continued to broadcast it. I am so glad it did.”

Read more: All the latest news from Sheppey