An Otley couple have been welcomed back by their church after a 16 year aid mission overseas

Paul and Sarah Wright spent their long stay in Nepal working in fields ranging from education and health to sustainable living and disaster management.

They were sent out as mission partners by Otley Methodist Church, and seconded to United Mission in Nepal - a Christian organisation dedicated to helping the poorest members of the country.

Their work included helping the local church transform its Sunday School, with mother-of-two Sarah running Bible classes as well as Nepali women's groups, and teaching at a Bible college.

Both of them started off working in non-formal education in a remote area of mid-west Nepal, teaching women to read and write, but after a few years the civil war ended that project and they relocated to Kathmandu.

Paul went on to work on disaster management with Nepali Christian Relief Services and local communities around the country to help minimise the effect of flooding, landslides, fires and more.

The Wrights were welcomed back at Otley Methodist Church last Sunday, July 27, when they presented the church with an embroidered tapestry - which will be installed in the Sanctuary - in recognition of all the support they have received.

They plan, following a short stay in Otley, to move to Gairloch in the Scottish Highlands where Mr Wright's father lives.