Building work has started on a new building to replace a “dilapidated and crumbling” community centre.

The Hope Centre will replace the Ignite Centre at St Mary’s Church in High Road, Loughton, which stands behind the main building.

After it was granted planning permission in February 2015, work has started on the new centre which will provide a large hall, meeting room, catering facilities and counselling room.

It will be built in the same space as the two-storey Ignite Centre, which has subsided since being built in the 1970s.

The Hope Centre will be attached to the main church via a glazed link.

The church aims to create a new community space for Loughton and provide a space for essential community services for all ages - such as Loughton Foodbank, toddler and youth groups and activities for the elderly.

The church and community café, Café Hope, will remain open during the building work but there will be no parking available on the site.

St Mary’s Church, in the town centre, welcomes about 600 people every week.

Vicar of St Mary’s, Rev'd Malcolm Macdonald, said: “St Mary’s is a church that wants to share God’s love in Loughton and beyond.

“This is about increasing our capacity to do that in very practical ways, whether through Loughton Foodbank, toddler groups, lunches for the elderly or children’s and youth events – we want to love Loughton through the whole church site, including the new Hope Centre."

He added: “We are a church seeking to serve people and the Hope Centre is about integrating church and community.”

To make a donation for the new Hope Centre, visit the church's website at www.stmarysloughton.com.