CRITICS have slammed plans to replace the traditional wooden doors on a Frinton church with an electronic sliding entrance.

Leaders at Frinton Free Church have launched an application to make the change to the grand building in Connaught Avenue.

They want to remove the current heavy wooden doors and replace them with automatic sliding glass doors.

The plans have been devised to make the church more welcoming and accessible.

A planning application for the alteration has already been submitted and was discussed by Frinton and Walton Town Council at its last meeting, where councillors criticised the plans.

Frinton councillor Vanda Watling said: “They look awful. They look like cheap patio doors rather than the lovely wooden ones in place at the moment.

“The church is an architectural gem and they want to put a set of doors in it that will make it look like Marks and Spencer."

Town councillors recommended refusal of the project but Tendring Council will make the final decision.