Childwall Synagogue rabbi Lionel Cofnas has announced his retirement after 30 years in the Merseyside pulpit.

He plans to move to Manchester next summer after standing down and eventually to make aliyah.

"We have had a good relationship together even though it may have changed over the years," he said this week.

"When I came to the community, the shul was packed. It was a different congregation with a very large overflow and people couldn't get seats." However, the situation had changed dramatically as "many young people have moved away and membership numbers have fallen". But some of those who had left the city were leaders of their new communities.

"There is still infrastructure which will be maintained to a lesser degree for a long time to come," Rabbi Cofnas added.

As for his successor, "it is an ageing community so to expect a young person to come and stay for a long time would be doubtful".