CROSSGATES residents are uniting to try and save the village's church from closure.

Trinity Church and hall in Church Place is one of 51 places of worship across Fife which the Church of Scotland say may have to shut as part of plans for wider reform.

A petition in Crossgates has already attracted nearly 400 online signatures from people desperate to avoid the loss of the church.

Local resident June Miller started up the campaign after being "shocked and saddened" at the news of the possible closure.

"I wanted to show my support to Trinity Church congregation by raising more awareness of the possible closure of this village hub, and that is the reason I set up a Crossgates village petition to appeal against the buildings closure,” she said.

“Over 500 people came to Church Place, Crossgates on Monday to sign my community petition. This shows that the Crossgates community care about this iconic church building.

"The village of Crossgates has grown and we do not want to see the closure of this community asset. The petition is open for another couple of days, and there is also an online community petition.”

Due to celebrate its 220th birthday this year, the church currently has around 50 people who attend its regular services.

The hall is used for the congregation and the community and is a meeting place for the local Friendship group and Brownies and also hosts a range of community events.

The online petition against the closure adds: "Many of you may not attend Sunday Services, but a significant number of you do support the many outreach activities.

"It is now time for members of the community to show their support by signing a petition to save the buildings in Church Place, from closure."

Anyone wanting to sign the petition can do so here.