Former servicemen have condemned plans that could mean the demolition of a church hall built as a memorial to First World War soldiers.

The proposals are for the landmark Clifftown United Reformed Church, in Nelson Street, Southend, which has been unused for several months following an amalgamation of churches in the town.

Bournemouth Park United Reformed Church is now being used as a combined centre, taking in the former Clifftown congregation.

Now an application has been made to Southend Council to turn the church itself - which dates back to 1883 - into offices, and demolish the hall at the back.

It is the latter part of the plan that has drawn the wrath of Colin Bateman, chairman of the Naval and Military Club, in Royal Terrace, Southend, which was established in 1920 as a social club and benevolent organisation for ex-servicemen.

He said: "I think it is deplorable to suggest demolishing a hall which was built as a memorial to the fallen.

"You might as well suggest pulling down the Cenotaph on the Cliffs, or Queen Victoria's statue, as it is an important part of the town's heritage."

Gordon Heald, property manager for the United Reformed Church's eastern province, said the proposal was testing the water and was not a certainty.

He said: "The application is only an exploratory one as the church is now redundant. We are required by our charitable status to get the best possible value for the site.

"I wasn't aware the hall was built as a war memorial and this is something I will be talking about with other church leaders."

Mr Heald said there had been no final decisions made about the future of the church and the hall and any concerns would be taken on board.

He said: "It may be the church will be taken over by another religious organisation.

"The church would not be carrying out any development work itself. That would be up to any purchaser to put in a further application.

"This application is part of the disposal process which we have to go through when a church is made redundant to assess the value which can be obtained."

Jon Garston, Tory councillor for Milton ward, said there were obvious concerns about the hall because of its status as a war memorial.

He added: "I would be happier seeing the church converted into offices in a sensitive manner rather than it becoming a pub or being turned into flats.

"I believe the demolition of the hall is because of car parking, and I would hope this is an issue which can be resolved in some other way."