PREACHER Roland Parsons is threatening legal action after he was stopped from giving a street sermon on Christmas Eve.

Rev Parsons, who lives near Painswick, had just begun reading the story of the nativity from St Luke Chapter Two when security staff insisted he moved on.

He has preached at a regular spot in Gloucester city centre for more than 20 years - and claims this is the first time he has been prevented from spreading the word.

The father-of-three - who appropriately enough lives in a house called Adam and Eve in the village of Paradise - is now investigating who employed the men.

But as a highways expert himself, Mr Parsons, 58, argues the action was illegal.

He claims his preaching spot in King's Square is an 'ancient highway' dating back to Roman times and insists he has every right to speak there.

"The legal position is once a highway, always a highway," said Mr Parsons, who works for Gloucestershire County Council.

"Because of this blatant insult to my religion on Christmas Eve I am considering bringing a private legal action against those who ordered me to leave the public highway."

He says after being told to move on the security officer radioed for assistance.

"I was not even allowed to remain there to talk to two pedestrians who were upset by how they saw the Christian message being stopped," he said.

"The officer then said to me 'I don't care about this religious nonsense - I'm not interested.'"

Rev Parsons - a minister with the New Testament Fellowship International Church - says he left the area so as not to cause a scene.

"The action that stopped the Nativity Message on Christmas Eve was an affront to the respect that is due to Christians at their major Christmas Festival," he added.

"If I had represented any other main religion I would have been afforded every consideration at such a sensitive time."