British nun on road to sainthood

A Yorkshire nun who was jailed for trying to promote women's rights 400 years ago has been put on the road to sainthood by Pope Benedict.

Mary Ward, who was born in Ripon, founded an order of nuns in the 17th Century but it was rejected by the Pope and she was accused of heresy.

Pope Benedict has now approved a decree recognising her "heroic virtues", giving her the title "venerable".

Her cause will now go to the next stage in the process towards canonization.