Revs' reg is a good omen

Revved up: Gary and Carole show off their unholy joke

Husband and wife ministers Gary and Carol Gotham have a wicked sense of humour.

When they bought a new car they decided they would like personalised number plates.

So to prove they were devilishly funny they chose the number plate R666 REV.

The United Reformed Church ministers in Stockport paid £250 to have the mark of the beast on their car.

Satan was unavailable for comment

Mr Gotham told BBC News Online: "It is just a bit of fun.

"We wanted to make people smile and that certainly is the reaction we have had."

The Anti-Christ and his mysterious mark have instilled fear in Christians for centuries.

The number 666 terrified millions of non-believers when the film The Omen was released in 1976.

In it Anti-Christ Damien had the mark under his hair.

But Mr Gotham said he and his wife had no such fears.

"We have nothing to be afraid of because we do believe we're on the right side," he said.

Beastly fun

And he added none of their congregation was offended by the irreverent reg.

"We did worry that some people may think it was sacrilegious, which it is not intended to be at all," he said.

"We just wanted to share a bit of fun, as well as raising the profile of the church.

"But it does mean we can't go anywhere incognito."