EVANGELICAL and Pentecostal worshippers are being unfairly crammed into small buildings, research has found.

A report by CAG consultants estimates 350 London churches want to move to bigger premises - and are being prevented from doing so because planners discriminate against places of worship.

Pentecostal Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), which claims to be the "largest growing" church in western Europe with a weekly congregation of 12,000, currently resides in Hoe Street, Walthamstow.

A KICC application to build a £70m, 8,000-seat church were recently turned down by Havering Council.

The CAG report said there is a "huge unmet need for expansion" which is stifled by lack of understanding by planning authorities.

Churches are calling for a rule change to let them move to areas earmarked for employment.

KICC was moved from its previous premises in Waterden Road, Hackney, because it was within the 2012 Olympic Park site.

Havering Council said the planned redevelopment would cause too much congestion.

CAG reseacch in 22 of the 33 London Boroughs found planners' "lack of knowledge about faith and cultural awareness" created a "substantial barrier to expansion".