A Cockermouth group hopes that busy church rooms in the town can be registered as a community asset to protect them.

The town's civic trust has applied for the United Reformed Church Rooms to be registered by Allerdale council. The application was agreed by the church.

A trust spokesman said: "The whole building and the forecourt are now extensively used as community facilities as well as a place of worship.

"Clearly the original purpose of the church building was as a place of worship.

"However, the use of the building and its forecourt by community groups and for town functions has grown enormously over the last two decades such that any loss of these facilities would represent a major loss to the social interests of the Cockermouth community. 

"For example, if the church decided for whatever reason to move their place of worship to an alternative location, these valuable community facilities would be put at risk."

If it is was registered, this would mean that should it ever be for sale community groups interested in buying it would be given six months to find the resources.

The trust is also looking into trying to register the town's Greenway.

A spokesman said: "The Greenway is owned by three different bodies and is a designated cycleway and a permissive path, not a public footpath. 

"We are currently in discussions with Cumbria County Council to determine the status of this asset if one of the landowners decides to sell the land over which the Greenway passes."