A minister who moved to Scotland from a small community in Nigeria has discovered an "amazing" connection with his new home town after a church member revealed she worked in the same hospital as his mother.

Revered Dr Elijah Obinna found out about the link after moving 3,700 miles to Carluke in South Lanarkshire last week.

Former Church of Scotland missionary Dr Ann Jackson, 78, an elder at St John's Church, worked as a general physician in three hospitals in Nigeria between 1966 and 1970.

One of them was the Presbyterian Joint Hospital in Uburu in Ebonyi state - the area where Rev Obinna used to live - and where his mother Margaret worked as a nurse for 28 years until she retired in 2008.

The 41-year-old minister moved to Scotland to take up the role at St John's, being formally inducted at a special ceremony on Thursday.

Dr Jackson said she was "thrilled to bits" with his arrival.

"I was stunned when I learned that Elijah's mother worked in the same hospital as me," she said.

"The way God works out his purpose is amazing and you never know where it is going to take you or how it is going to end.

"But you have to believe you are all part of this great plan because I do not believe in coincidences."

Dr Obinna, who is married to Favour with whom he has four young children, said his mother was "really surprised" to learn of the connection.

"It is amazing that Ann was sent to Nigeria by the Church of Scotland 50 years ago and now the Presbytery of Nigeria has sent me to the Church of Scotland," he added.

"I was surprised to learn of the connection because I had never been to Carluke before, so it was unbelievable to hear that Ann worked in the same hospital as my mum."