Homer Simpson may not be an obvious paragon of virtue but his animated antics are being used to educate Sunday school children this Easter.

The anti-hero once described Christianity as "the one with all the well-meaning rules that don't work out in real life" and called God "my favourite fictional character".

But he is the inspiration behind a course on Lent being run at St Mary's Church in Rock Gardens, Kemp Town, Brighton.

Sunday school teacher Jacalyn Oghan was introduced to the US cartoon series by her five-year-old son, Nur.

Mrs Oghan, of Eastern Road, Brighton, said: "He loves it. He's always watching the videos we have piled up at home and almost all his toys are to do with The Simpsons.

"I always heard it on in the background at home but now he's teaching me more about it and the show is definitely growing on me.

"The idea to use it for the Lent course came to me in the middle of the night.

"I just thought this would be something the Sunday school children would be interested in.

"It won't just be sitting messing about and watching cartoons, though.

"We'll have Bible readings and proper discussions."

The course will not be Mrs Oghan's first imaginative approach to Sunday school teaching.

Last July, police were called when she set off a rocket bearing a picture of Jesus to mark Ascension Day after neighbours thought a gun had been fired.

The idea to build a Christian course around The Simpsons stems from the work of American religious writer Mark Pinsky.

His book, The Gospel According To The Simpsons, explains the moral and religious lessons contained in the series.

This is despite the fact US president George Bush Snr once called for American families to be more like The Waltons than The Simpsons.

But Mr Pinsky calls The Simpsons "the most consistent and intelligent treatment of religion on TV", tackling issues such as adultery, religious fanaticism and the nature of the soul.

He has written: "The show's consistent message is that family and faith are the only reliable defences against the vagaries of modern life."

Mrs Oghan's course will be split into four weekly sessions, each featuring an episode of The Simpsons and a follow-up discussion.

The programme kicks off with "When bad things happen to good people", featuring the time Homer's religious neighbour Ned Flanders opens a left-handed store but hits financial problems.

Week two is based on "What is a soul?", showing an episode where Homer's son Bart sells his soul to best friend Milhouse but is then racked by despair.

"Little sins and big sins" forms the basis of week three, based on the episode in which Homer illegally connects up to pay-TV, only to face the moral indignation of his daughter Lisa who says he has broken the eighth commandment.

Week four is called "Knowing God and being part of a community of faith", and will feature the time Homer refuses to go to church and instead declares his own religion.

The first weekly session will be held at the church on February 25 - Ash Wednesday - at 5.30pm.

For more details, call Mrs Oghan on 01273 673783.