Sabden Methodist Church in Wesley Street may face the axe if the problem cannot be resolved, according to a church source.

Methodist leaders from the Burnley Circuit, which includes Sabden, Hapton, Padiham, Ightenhill, Greenbrook, Wheatley Lane, Brierfield, United, Brunshaw, Central and Parkside Methodist churches, will meet at the end of this month with diocesan leaders to decide the fate of the church, but rumours are rife it is to close.

The church caretaker recently moved out of his home at the adjoining Chapel House after many years.

But members of the congregation have vowed not to let their church go without a fight, pledging to raise funds to save the building if necessary.

The source said: "Meetings about the church are still taking place, but nothing has been resolved as to what's going to happen with it.

"I know the minister has contacted other churches in Sabden to see if we could worship in other churches and they have all said yes. But it is not just down to the Methodist members on the Burnley Circuit, they answer to people in Manchester."

The source said the church has suffered from dwindling numbers with the congregation now down to 20.

"There are no children coming up because there is no Sunday school, except for children visiting their grandparents, and people have just left.

"I can't really say anything concrete because meetings are still taking place.

"But there is wet rot and dry rot and there is a threat of closure."