PLANS for a brand new £1.5million church building in Milton have been shelved because of a lack of cash.

PLANS for a brand new £1.5million church building in Milton have been shelved because of a lack of cash.

St Peter's was given planning permission to put the building on its existing site in Baytree Road but the vicar there says the congregation cannot afford it.

Reverend Geoff Eales said: "The old hall isn't exactly falling down but the new plans were rather grand.

"It was going to be a wonderful building there but we just haven't got the money.

"It would have cost about £1.5million to build it so we had a reality check.

"We have already got a vast amount of space in the church so we have decided to use that.

"We are going to put a partition in so that the Locking Road end will be used as a hall.

If we need a bigger space we can then fold it back.

"The drawings for the new building still belong to us and we have planning permission but I cannot see it happening.

"The new plans for the partition will cost about £250,000 and will include a new toilet and kitchen.

"We hope to get the work finished by autumn 2008.