A petition opposing a bid to convert two empty high street shops into a place of worship has been signed by 850 people a week after being launched.

Woodford Muslim Cultural Centre (WMCC) has submitted an application to transform a former hairdressers and a sweet shop in Snakes Lane East, Woodford Green, into a community centre with prayer facilities. 

The application states the centre could hold up to 60 people at a time, with opening hours between 7am and 10pm, seven days a week.

Responding to complaints in the summer, Redbridge council found the premises were being used as a place of worship without permission.

A previous application for the conversion of the shops, which have been unused for more than a year, was withdrawn in August following objections.

A second complaint of unauthorised use was made in October, but an investigation is on hold pending the completion of the application process.

WMCC initially launched a petition of its own in support of the latest proposal, which attracted more than 100 signatures, with 57 submissions online in support. 

People living in nearby Theydon Grove have launched the Save Our Shops campaign, which is calling for the shops to remain as retail outlets.

As well as the 850 signatures, there are also 93 objections registered online. 

For more on this story, see this week's Guardian - out Thursday