Worshippers at a Southend church hope their seven-year search for a permanent home may soon come to an end.

Southend Vineyard, an evangelical religious group, has applied to convert a distribution depot into a place of worship.

Last year its application to be based in a disused warehouse in Short Street was refused because the council did not want the loss of possible employment opportunities from such a site.

However, Minister Steve Barber is hopeful they will have better luck in their bid to take over the former Parcelforce depot at the Cathodean Works, in Bircham Road, Southend.

He said: "We have been working closely with the council and are hopeful we will be more successful. We know that the residents are unhappy about rules allowing lorries to visit the depot at any time, and we would be much quieter."

Mr Barber heads the only Essex branch of Vineyard, a world-wide Christian organisation. The Southend group started seven years ago with just five people meeting in someone's house and has grown to more than 300 regular worshippers.

He said: "We are a very relaxed church, where people do not dress up for services."

All change? - Steve Barber at the depot he wants as a place of worship

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

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