A BATTLE has broken out in Micheldean Church's mini market, with the volunteer organisers of the bric-a-brac stall saying the Parochial Church Coun­­cil wants them to close.

Mandy Preece, who runs the stall with her son and other family members, has started a petition in the village to keep the stall running.

The bric-a-brac and second-hand clothing stall is operated on Thursdays together with a cake stall, coffee and raffle run by other church members.

"My son and I have been running the bric-a-brac for some time but now the church council has written to say it wants us to run to the end of June only," she said.

"We get people coming from all over the Forest, including Lydney. The money we make all goes to church funds."

Churchwarden Sue Lewis, who helps to run the cake stall and raffle on Thursdays, said she understood the PCC suggested the stall should close because it was making very little money.

She said the matter would be considered at the next PCC meeting on June 29. So far as she knew Mrs Preece would have no representation at the meeting.