A PETITION with the names of more than 1,000 people opposing the conversion of a church will be presented to council chiefs.

Residents are campaigning against the sale of St Jude’s in Shirley Warren, Southampton, with the church potentially being redeveloped as flats.

The 1,055 name petition has now been handed over by angry residents to a city councillor.

Coxford Independent councillor Don Thomas will present it to the city council at its meeting.

The Winchester Diocese, which has put the site up for sale, says it “has not been used by the parish for some time, owing to low attendance”, while saying there are alternative places of worship.

But residents say it is still used by the community and other denominations such as a Romanian Orthodox congregation of more than 100 people.

It also rejected a bid by the Iglesia Ni Christo, a Filipino congregation that had leased the building, to buy the church.

Speaking outside the church, Warren Avenue resident Mo Coen said: “It’s disgusting that the Church of England won’t let another church buy us out.”

Neighbour Helen Griffiths said: “It’s the heart of the community, if you rip out the heart there will be no more community.”

Cllr Thomas said: “St Jude’s Church and the main hall are worth fighting for and residents are doing just that.”