Coventry church put on market amid petition

The church and buildings are on the market for offers of about £750,000

A church, its buildings and land have been put up for sale amid a petition calling for part of the portfolio to be locally listed.

Hearsall Baptist Church in Coventry said it followed a decision taken on financial grounds.

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition calling for an original 1928 section of the site to be protected.

Steven Cobb from the Hearsall Community Rooms group said the plan to sell had caused a "lot of concern".

He said the building erected in 1928 - featuring the tower - was built as a church school.

"It's an important part of educational history," he added.

By local listing, councils can affords greater protection to buildings although they are not statutorily guarded.

Coventry City Council said it had not had a formal application to locally list any part of the site.

Mr Cobb said: "What we want really is for somebody to come along, see the potential of the building for community use, purchase it and put it to use - whether that's a charity, whether that's a commercial entity that has charitable interest. But to make the facility still a part of the community."

The collective Queensland Avenue site is on sale for offers in the region of £750,000.

Steven Cobb and Pat Thomas are members of a community group trying to save the site

The asset is being offered with full vacant possession, and suitable for a variety of uses, subject to planning, a sales listing states.

Pat Thomas from the Rooms group said the building was "vital" to locals, adding "there's so little community space around here".

"We don't have the money to buy it, we just need to partner with somebody."

The petition, which runs until 17 February, said the council was being urged to "actively work with partners in the public and community sectors to preserve community use for this building".