HUNDREDS of people are fighting to stop a historic church being bulldozed.

HUNDREDS of people are fighting to stop a historic church being bulldozed.

Our Lady of Loreto RC Church in Dalmuir, Clydebank - which survived the Blitz in 1941 - closed this year.

People in the town now fear the 1903 building, one of the area's most prominent landmarks, will be knocked down.

The Archdiocese of Glasgow has obtained a building warrant from West Dunbartonshire Council which allows the demolition to go ahead.

MSP Des McNulty, right, has raised the matter at the Scottish Parliament and won the support of his colleagues in retaining the building.

Now an online petition organised by the Clydebank Restoration Trust has been signed by hundreds of people.

Trust chairman Martin Docherty said: "The church remains a witness to the horrors of 1941, when Clydebank was ravaged by the Luftwaffe.

"It now faces demolition by the Archdiocese of Glasgow. The trust understands the predicament the Archdiocese faces in light of reduced vocations and attendances.

"But we were gravely concerned to learn that the demolition of the building is to go ahead.

"We had thought the Archdiocese would have had the imagination and innovation to use this building itself or with other parties to the benefit of the community.

"The trust is understandably disappointed the Archdiocese has decided to take this action."

He said the building was a fine example of Edwardian Gothic and was one of the few remaining religious architectural gems in Dunbartonshire.

"The church is a strong symbol for the community of Dalmuir and plays a pivotal part in community life in Dalmuir and in Greater Clydebank.

"The demise of such a building will be a blow to community cohesion and the future regeneration of our town."

West Dunbartonshire Council officials have met with the Archdiocese and expressed concern at the possible loss of the building and urged itto "examine every avenue" to retain it.

The council has no power to prevent its demolition.

The Archdiocese of Glasgow was unavaible for comment.