A former town centre bank that sat empty for five years has been transformed into a church.

New City of Redemption Parish has taken over the space in New Rents in Ashford, formerly used by the Royal Bank of Scotland, and church leaders hope to brighten up the area.

Pastors put forward plans to convert the building in April 2022 and were finally able to launch services before Christmas.

The church, which was founded in 2008 and is part of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, has been searching for a home for years, and moved several times.

Members were only able to meet at their most recent base once a week.

Titi Oloruntoba, co-pastor with her husband Ayo, says she is happy to be in the town centre.

The pastor went on: “It is amazing to be open and we cannot thank God enough. It has been a journey but finally we have a place to settle.

“We used to only be able to meet one day a week at the rented hall but now we can come in any time.

“We have children's parties, coffee mornings and Bible study. We are also a youth centre and have something called prayer and pizza for the young people.

“To be in the town centre is a joyous opportunity for us, it means we are in the heart of the town which is the icing on top of the cake.”

Along with renovations, a condition of planning meant the place of worship had to be soundproofed, something volunteers have worked hard to ensure.

Pastor Oloruntoba, who is also a physiotherapist who works in women's health, added: “We have done a lot of work to the building and we have had lots of dedicated hands to help.

“It has taken from May to get here and little things are still happening.

“We have had to do the ceiling and we have had to soundproof everything too because it was part of the regulations.”

In 2017, the group had to move from Apsley House in Western Avenue as planning permission was granted for it to be converted into flats.

While looking for a new home, the congregation temporarily met at the Ashford International Hotel.

A year later, church leaders applied to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) to move to a unit on the Bridge Road Business Centre, but the application was refused.

They then met at the Repton Connect Community Centre once a week.

A Royal Bank of Scotland branch closed in August 2018 after bosses recorded a 54% reduction in transactions since 2012.

It was one of 162 branches to close in England and Wales.

Directly opposite the church, a 92-bed hotel is set to replace six shops, including the former Argos.

The six units will be flattened to make way for the scheme, with the PDSA charity shop now the only store currently still occupied.

A demolition notice was lodged with ABC earlier this year, but no date or timescale has been given for the work.

Designed by architect Guy Hollaway – who drew up the scheme on behalf of applicant SPPF Ltd – the project will also include 10 flats on the top floor.

The operator of the site is not yet known, but it will offer three to four-star accommodation.