The world leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church will give worshippers at a Sussex church a final warning to heal their rifts.

Pope Shenouda III has sent a delegate - Bishop Bola - from his base in Egypt to the St Mary and St Abraam Church in Hove.

The Argus revealed in January how the congregation had been split in two by the retirement of Father Zakaria Botros Henein after ten years.

Bishop Bola arrived from Egypt yesterday and was due to hold urgent talks with the church council last night.

It is thought he was carrying a special message from the Pope which he will deliver to the church community this week.

Father Zakaria's supporters claim he was forced out while the church's new leaders accused the priest of alienating many with his autocratic style.

Supporters of Father Zakaria barricaded themselves into the church's basement for nine days in January.

About 20 protesters held a three-day fast, demanding the Pope send independent investigators to look into their complaints.

There have since been attempts to heal the divisions, with the setting-up of a new church council and the appointment of Father Zakaria's replacement, Father Manasa.

However, the council has been suspended because of ongoing disputes and Father Manasa's arrival from Sudan was delayed by visa problems.

He was expected to take over a month ago but has not yet arrived. He is scheduled to travel over today.

Antonyus Philips, who led the protests, said: "We don't know what will happen but we will go along with whatever the Pope decides.

"We have not been happy with the way the church has been run over the last few months but we all want to get back to normal."

Former church secretary Roy Isaac, who has been advising the new church council, said a minority of protesters had disrupted the community for long enough.

He said: "There have been a lot of conflicts and arguments. Many people have been staying away from service because the atmosphere is so bad.

"Whatever Bishop Bola tells us from the Pope, it has to be the end to this whole nonsense. We just want peace."