A church centre is to be sold to make way for two houses, a church has said.

The Victoria Hall and Abbey Lodge in Greenyard, Waltham Abbey, will be put up for sale by Waltham Abbey Church with planning permission for the homes.

The land was left to the church by the late John Parnell just before the First World War, to be used by the community.

But the church says no money was left for the upkeep of the centre and it is no longer suitable for church work.

It intends to use the money from the sale of the land to maintain the Abbey Church.

Plans for the homes can be seen at the parish office in Abbey Gardens and anyone who wants to comment on them should write to the chairman of the District Church Council there by May 30.