When Richard Chilvers resigned from his job it gave him the chance to go on a life-changing trip.

The 39-year-old from Cowley went on a two-week trip to the West Bank and is now considering living there.

Mr Chilvers, who used to work at child poverty charity World Vision, but found his job as a press officer boring.

The West Bank is disputed land between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Mr Chilvers said: “I had just had enough of sitting behind a desk. It wasn’t the right job for me and I had always wanted to go on this trip.

“I had heard a lot about the situation in the West Bank and I decided to go and investigate for myself about what can be done there.

“I’d like to think I went over there with an open mind.

“Israelis have some valid security concerns and see themselves as surrounded by people who want to wipe them out. But I guess I also understand the ongoing situation for the Palestinian people is a very serious one.”

While in the West Bank Mr Chilvers, of Beauchamp Lane, helped plant olive trees on a co-operative and lent a hand laying the foundations of a destroyed mosque.

He returned on Wednesday and is now considering going back for longer.

He said: “I’m taking time to consider what to do next. I’m thinking about going back for a couple of years.

“We met some people who haven’t been able to get to Jerusalem for 11 years and children who have to go through checkpoints on their way to school.

“There are plenty of soldiers. I didn’t see any conflict but it was very moving.”

He went to the West Bank with a group of 11 as part of Christian Peacemaker Teamswhich gives support to parts of the world in conflict.

Mr Chilvers, who worships at to St Aldate’s Church, said: “My faith is very important to me and it certainly encourages it to help those who are suffering.”