A BID to demolish a St Mary Cray church to make way for a housing development goes before the council tonight.

An application has been submitted to knock down St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church and re-build it at about half the size.

The Archdiocese of Southwark would use the spare land, in the High Street, to build two four-bed semis and six three-bed terraces.

Last year neighbours held a public meeting to try to stop the proposals, which they say would worsen growing congestion on the High Street.

They claimed new homes would generate up to 30 extra cars and kill off a haven for wildlife such as badgers, bats and rare stag beetles.

Council planning officers have recommended a sub-committee approves the application.