A STREET preacher found guilty by magistrates of religiously aggravated public order has vowed to carry on broadcasting the Christian message in Taunton town centre.

Mike Overd, 52, of Arundells Way, Creech St Michael, maintains it is his duty to detest other religions, claiming Mohammed and Buddha are "liars" as there is only one true God.

He and fellow defendant, New Yorker Michael Stockwell, who was also found guilty following a trial at Bristol Magistrates' Court, are appealing their £300 fines and £30 victim surcharges and joint court costs of £3,372.

It was the third case against Mr Overd in recent years - he was found not guilty the first time, and then had a guilty verdict on the second case overturned on appeal.

The latest case relates to a group of four Christians preaching in Bristol, when some members of a large crowd became fractious and police arrived to arrest the four.

While the prosecution accused the two on trial of "inflammatory and extremely offensive" behaviour that caused a disturbance to public order, the defence countered that they were exercising their right to free speech and had not intended to stir up an aggressive reaction from onlookers.

Following the guilty verdict, Mr Overd told the County Gazette: "I was quite shocked. It knocked me for a couple of minutes.

"But we're confident of winning the appeal.

"I was only quoting the Bible and what Jesus said about other teachers. We believe this message to be true.

"We didn't go out to incite a riot or to harass people.

"If you don't agree with me, you can just say, 'He's an idiot' and walk past.

"It's a message I'm going to continue taking to the streets - I was out in Taunton on Saturday, when mainly people were ignoring me, although one or two were voicing an obscenity or two."

The court case was funded by Christian Concern, which, along with the Crown, police and the courts, has racked up a huge legal bill.

Mr Overd, who takes the gospel to the streets about once a week, added: "The court cases are wearing.

"But it's an honour to preach in this way. I've been called to do this because it's good news that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and we can have forgiveness for our wrongdoing.

"I'm single tracked and I never veer from that track.

"There are some people who do listen. Some Christians come up and encourage me, others recognise the threat to free speech and say, 'I don't agree with you, but keep going'.

"We're in a sad state in this country. We're still technically Christian, but we're more secular and atheistic."