A church in the heart of Folkestone has gone up for sale, sparking fears that homeless people could be forced back out on the streets.

The United Reformed Church in Castle Hill Avenue has been offered to community groups to buy at first refusal – and parties with an interest need to make a written request by Tuesday, June 6.

The church no longer holds religious services but is used as a volunteer centre and a temporary shelter for the Action on Homelessness group run by Pam Jones.

It has been listed as an asset of community value (ACV) since March 2013 under the Localism Act 2011.

An ACV is where a building or piece of land is initially protected from developers and is offered to the community for sale first for a limited period of time.

Groups have a matter of weeks to make their formal request to be classed as bidder for the building.

Ms Jones, who has been helping the homeless for four years, said: “It feels like the rug is being pulled from underneath our feet.

“There are some really vulnerable people out there and it is such a beautiful church which is part of Folkestone.

“I am devastated that the homeless people will have nowhere to go."

'I am devastated that the homeless people will have nowhere to go.' - Pam Jones

She is backed by around 10 volunteers who set up a temporary diner at the church on Mondays and Fridays between 5pm and 6pm.

The centre offers homeless people a place to sit in warmth and they receive drinks and meals cooked by Ms Jones in her own home.

She said about 17 to 20 homeless people used the service twice a week.

Shepway District Council received notification that the church would be coming up for sale at the end of last month.

A council spokesman said: “If no sale to a community interest group is agreed during the applicable moratorium period, the owner will be free to sell the property on the open market during a protected period expiring Tuesday, October 24, 2018.”

This will mean that the sale will be opened up to any interested developer or person.