Homer, I don't want to leave Exning

CARTOON land's favourite housewife Marge Simpson can normally be seen brandishing a vacuum cleaner or washing the dishes.

As if keeping the family home tidy isn't enough to contend with, the blue-haired mother of three has also got her work cut out trying to keep her useless but loveable husband Homer in check and her tearaway son Bart out of trouble.

So it is no surprise that Mrs Simpson might want to seek solace from her hectic lifestyle in a church.

But Suffolk Vicar Canon Pettitt could not believe his eyes when he discovered his favourite cartoon character in the Lady Chapel of his church - St Martin's in Exning, near Newmarket.

She wasn't the real thing of course, but a wooden carving on a 500-year-old pew showing an uncanny resemblance to The Simpson's character.

“I was quite amazed when we first realised the likeness of the carving, it really does look like her,” said Mr Pettitt. “It is a wonderful find.”

Appropriately, members of the Mother's Union, which voted Marge 'best mother in public life' in a recent poll, used to worship in the church.

Centuries ago such carvings would have been heavily coloured and church wardens are now considering having the ancient pew tested for signs of blue paint - the extraordinary colour of Ma Simpson's hair.

“I do enjoy watching The Simpsons programme, it's a bit like real life in a way that a lot of cartoons aren't,” said Mr Pettitt.

“A lot of people over a certain age that attend the church do not know what The Simpsons is so I am trying to educate them.

“It has certainly become something of a talking point in the church and anything that helps us to uphold and understand good motherhood is always welcome, and Marge is one of the best.”