Pope? Nope

A bid to bring the Pope to Colliers Wood when he visits Britain later this year has failed.

His Holiness had been invited to the area to view the remains of Merton Priory, the site of England’s first parliament and the place where Pope Adrian IV was educated in the 12th century.

The spiritual leader of Britain’s Catholics will visit the country from September 16 to 19. He is set to stay at the Apostolic Nunciature in Wimbledon Village - the home of his representative in the UK.

The invitation to visit the site was made by the mayor of Merton, Councillor Nick Draper, who is a trustee of conservation group the Merton Priory Trust.

While I'm on the subject, Dominic Lawson throws a cat among the pigeons, to my approval.