AN OTLEY church has dismissed rumours that it is planning to close.

Otley Methodist Church has taken the unusual step of issuing a statement to dispel hearsay about its future.

The Minister, Reverend Lesley Taylor, said: “Despite rumours circulating around Otley there are no current plans to close the Methodist Church on Boroughgate.

“Worship is still taking place at 10.30am every Sunday and at 10am on Friday, with our Shoppers Service.

“We have events planned for the next few months, including a concert by Zeke Deighton at 7.30pm on Saturday, October 20 entitled Country Life, and our annual Advent Sheep Trail is planned for December.

“We have rooms for hire and are always on the look out for groups to use our rooms.”

*Otley All Saints Parish Church completed a £550,000 revamp, designed to make it more accessible and better equipped to host a variety of events, in early 2016.