HUNDREDS of people protested against the historic EMD cinema from being redeveloped into a church.

The campaigners gathered on Saturday evening to show their support against plans unveiled by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) to convert the Grade II listed building into a church venue and conference centre.

About 600 protestors lined up along both sides of Hoe Street waving banners.

Many wore Alfred Hitchcock masks to highlight the legendary director's associations with the EMD.

Images of Hitchcock were also projected on to the facade of the building to rounds of applause.

News crews from the BBC, ITV News, French National Radio were also covered the event.

Bill Hodgson of the McGuffin Film Society, which organised the protest, said: “We were delighted by the turnout for this demonstration even though it was only arranged at less than a week's notice.”

"This is one local issue which is not going to go away and it is now time for councillors to face up to the anger and dismay many residents feel about what is being proposed for the cinema.”

He added: "Saturday's demonstration was the biggest protest seen in this borough for many years and has brought the EMD issue back to national prominence.”

The protest followed a two-day exhibition of the current UCKG proposals at St Gabriel's Church in Havant Road, Walthamstow.

The Brazil-based church group intends to convert the former cinema and music hall into a place of worship in the main auditorium with additional rooms available for the private sector and community groups to hire.

Supporters of the McGuffin campaign include actors Tony Robinson and Meera Syal MBE, veteran politician Tony Benn and Alfred Hitchcock's daughter Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell.