Supporters of a church have arranged a series of events in a bid to raise £2million for a new community centre.

Members of the congregation at St John's Church in Epping, which launched the Heart of Epping appeal in 2012 in a bid to raise money for the new centre, were given £10 each at the weekend with a target of using it to raise as much as possible for the project.

Events planned include a Mother’s Day tea in the church on Mothering Sunday and a Tower of London-style planting of commemorative sponsored red hearts outside the church.

One church member used the '£10 Challenge' money to purchase sweets to sell after services.

The plans for the community centre which will include a meeting space and a café, have received outline planning consent from Epping Forest District Council.

Reverend Canon Geoffrey Connor said: "All of this money adds together and goes towards our project.

“All these little events, such as coffee mornings and sales, will demonstrate to the community that we are serious about the project and that it is going to happen.

"There is no reason why the building shouldn’t be built in the next year or two.

"This church belongs to Epping and this community needs us to do something for them.”