PLANS for a £70 million pentecostal 'mega-church' have been turned down.

The Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), based in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, had hoped to create the 8,000-seat place of worship.

But Havering Council rejected the application, saying the church would cause too much congestion.

The KICC had to move from its previous premises in Waterden Road, Hackney, to make way for Olympic development.

London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC) discussed the plans on Thursday evening.

KICC are reported to have spent £1.8m on architects and consultants to come up with the design.

In a statement, Havering Council said: "Councillors unanimously objected to the proposal of the KICC due to the inadequacy of local transport facilities and... the development would conflict with the strategic employment policy for the area and that the site would be a poor location for a use of the scale and nature proposed."

Pastor Dipo Oluyomi, CEO of KICC, told the BBC: "We are shocked to hear this news.

"What happened was unfair and not expected of people who are genuinely after the progress of the community. We will however await the formal determination of the application by LTGDC."