Spanish bishop's solidarity pay cut

Spain's youngest bishop has taken a voluntary pay cut as a mark of solidarity with the poor and unemployed. His country has the highest unemployment rate in Europe with 5.3 million out of work, or 23 per cent of the working age population.

Xavier Novell i Gomà, 42, the Bishop of Solsona in Catalonia, one of the smallest dioceses in Spain, cut his pay by 25 per cent to set an example as the country endures one of the toughest economic crises in decades.

His monthly salary is therefore cut from €1,200 (£1,000) to €900 (£750).

He also gave €300,000 (£250,000) - 10 per cent of the diocese's annual budget - to the Catholic charity Caritas.