CONSERVATIONISTS say a former church and the town’s last surviving “tin tabernacle” should be protected amid fears it faces demolition.

Old Heath Congregational Church on Fingringhoe Road was built in 1868.

The building has now been put up for sale for £225,000, with the site being marketed for potential residential development.

A number of attempts were made to demolish the historic church and replace it with a more cost-effective building.

Locally the building is known as the “tin tabernacle”, but church leaders had argued it needed extensive work to keep it running.

A bid in 2013 was withdraw before an amended plan was submitted in 2015.

Colchester Council refused the bid for the building to be demolished and a larger church built in its place saying it would be “inferior in design”.

Church leaders took the decision to appeal but an inspector ruled in the council's favour.

Colchester Civic Society fears for the future of the building, which is on Colchester Council's local list, now it has been put up for sale.

It provides added protection to landmarks across the borough, if they end up at risk of destruction or removal.

Bob Mercer, the Civic Society’s spokesman for planning and heritage, said they hoped the building would not be demolished.

He added: “If the council feels the former Congregational Church has merit to be put on the council’s own local list for buildings which should be protected, then it is hoped that any proposal to demolish the building will be resisted.

"Otherwise the local list will be weakened and owners of other buildings on the list could use this to argue in support of demolishing their locally listed buildings.”

Mr Mercer said the building was not in good condition but he hoped a way could be found to retain it as part of a development of the rest of the site.