HE'S a vicar who likes biting babies' heads off and then telling audiences about it.

But, thankfully, Methodist minister Reverend Michael Payne's 'victims' are just made of jelly.

Because Mr Payne just loves Jelly Babies - and he'll soon be appearing at Newport's Dolman Theatre to talk about his unusual passion.

Mr Payne, 43, of St Julian's Avenue, Newport, has been eating the sweets all his life and has been collecting memorabilia for more than ten years.

"I have been eating them for quite a long while but the collecting started probably in about 1993," he said.

"Jelly Babies were relaunched and there were six rather than five.

"They were given names and the shapes were changed, so they all looked different.

"I've got about 15 different mugs, 10 pencil cases, photo albums, a Jelly Baby house with inflatable furniture which has poseable Jelly Babies you can put in it, and lots of other things.

"From the 1960s I've got a cushion cover and a model advertising lorry which is still in mint condition in the original box.

"What appeals to me is the fun, the colours, their brightness. It's one of those things that once you start you keep going."

Mr Payne, a part-time chaplain at the University of Wales, Newport, whose Methodist ministry is in chapels in St Julian's and Caerleon, began talking to audiences about his unusual hobby six years ago.

He said: "I was asked to do a talk about them.

"On the first occasion my wife was sitting watching in tears of laughter because people were listening to me.

"The reaction from audiences is amazement and laughter."

All the profits raised from the talks go the St David's Foundation - and Michael doesn't stop there.

In 2001 he and wife, Anita, walked the Great Wall of China to raise money for the foundation.

"In 2002 they went to Kenya, and in nine days' time they will be walking the length of Hadrian's Wall.

But they won't be going alone.

Mr Payne said: "When we went to China I ended up taking about four kilos of Jelly Babies, and the group consumed them as we went along.

"They came to Kenya with us as well and they will be coming to Hadrian's Wall."