The campaign to save a historic church from closure has moved up a gear with the launch of a petition.

The Friends of St Peter's Church was set up earlier this year to try to save the Brighton building from closure after the Church of England deemed it too expensive to maintain and run. Every Saturday throughout April residents can sign the petition to urge the Bishop and Diocese of Chichester to work to save St Peter's.

The secretary of the Friends, Maureen Dickson, said: "The Friends' aim is to safeguard and preserve St Peter's as a historic and centrally important place of Christian worship and to develop and publicise the church's community role."

Anyone who can help with petitioning or would like to join or support the Friends of St Peter's Church can contact Maureen Dickson or Jean Calder, the convenor of the Friends on 07903 180453 or write to The Friends of St Peter's Church, York Place, Brighton, BN1 4GU.