Churchgoers at Dudley’s landmark Top Church have hit out at the vicar’s support for a proposed multi-million pound mosque and raised a 900-name petition.

The Rev Tony Attwood, vicar at St Thomas and St Luke’s, has backed plans for a £6million mosque and £12million community centre and sent a letter in support of the scheme to council planners.

But about 30 members of the Sunday morning congregation disagree with the vicar’s stance and have signed a petition protesting against the plans.

Churchgoers gathered more than 900 other names. The document was handed to the council on Thursday.

One member of the congregation, who wished to remain anonymous, said he felt “betrayed” by church leaders.

He said: “We put a petition for objections at the back of the church and almost everybody in the congregation signed it,”

“The reverend kept his mouth shut. I think he felt as though he had been betrayed, but he’d betrayed us. He never consulted us about how the congregation would react regarding the mosque scheme. It’s a big split and a bitter row,” he added.

Mr Attwood said nobody in the congregation had approached him about the mosque.