A total of 488 people have signed a petition calling for the reinstatement of a war memorial removed from Epsom Methodist Church in Ashley Road in 2006.

Clive Gilbert, a local historian, started the petition last year after discovering the World War One memorial to three soldiers, who were part of the churches' congregation, had been removed during renovation works.

After mounting pressure from the community, the church council agreed to review its decision and it is expected to meet on Tuesday, January 24, to decide whether the memorial, which is currently in storage at Bourne Hall Museum, should be returned to the church.