Disgraced former Cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken will tell a Sussex audience how he found God after being sentenced to 18 months in prison.

The former Tory MP, who was convicted of perjury following his failed libel action against The Guardian and Granada Television, will visit Kings Church in Hastings.

He was invited by eight churches to launch an Alpha course, in which people explore the Christian faith.

Mr Aitken, who married Elizabeth Harris, the former wife of actor Richard Harris in June, was jailed in 1999 and served seven months of his sentence.

He spent his time at Belmarsh Prison, where he said he cried out to God in prayer on his first night as he listened to other prisoners shouting threats at him.

While in jail he befriended other inmates and joined Christian groups of prisoners who met to pray together.

Mr Aitken has since completed a two-year theology degree at Oxford University and spends much of his time working for Christian groups.

Kings Church leader Nigel Dutton said: "Jonathan Aitken is an after-dinner speaker who is in great demand so we are delighted he is coming to speak.

"He has a remarkable and inspiring story to tell and I hope lots of people will come and hear him."

The Alpha supper takes place at Boundaries, The Ridge, on Friday, September 26 at 7.30pm. For ticket information, call 01424 755990.