FAKE news is the inspiration behind a new course starting next week.

Organised by members at Dursley Tabernacle church, the six-week course draws on the recent prevalence of the phrases fake news and post-truth to explore Christian beliefs in an open environment.

A banner reading ‘Fed up with ‘fake news’ and ‘post-truth’? Explore an alternative this lent’ will go up in the town centre this week inviting anyone to attend to ask whatever they want about Christianity.

Starting on Tuesday with a pancake party, the course is designed specifically to be accessible to everyone regardless of their faith or prior knowledge.

Minister at the united reformed church the Rev Simon Helme said: “These are unprecedented times. Sometimes it feels as if the rule book has been torn up and thrown out.

“It’s not just whether we can believe information we are given but a time where fundamental principles, such as welcome and care for the outsider, feel under threat.

“For me as a Christian it is a huge comfort to be able to hold firm to beliefs that endure despite the shifting patterns of time.

“Lent is a season when Christians traditionally take time out to study and reflect.

“This year it feels more important than ever to offer that opportunity to people outside of church, to invite them to explore the basics of our faith for themselves in a relaxed atmosphere where no questions are off limits. Everyone is warmly welcome - and we truly mean that.”

The free course starts on Shrove Tuesday (February 28) and will run each Tuesday at 7.30pm until April 4 at the church.

The evenings can be used as individual sessions or taken as a whole course and topics covered will include ‘What are we doing here?’ and ‘Who is Jesus?’.