A PREGNANCY and abortion crisis centre could open beneath a disused city centre church - which is now a nightclub.

The Cedar Tree Trust, based on Barbourne Terrace, Barbourne, wants to shift premises to the vacant underground crypt of St Nicholas' Church, on The Cross.

If Worcester City Council planners support the application, the centre will be situated directly below the popular RSVP nightclub. It means the roof will have housed a bar, pregnancy crisis centre, a Citizen's Advice Bureau and church during its varied history.

The current centre in Barbourne offers free pregnancy tests as well as pre- and post-abortion counselling.

A spokesman for the Trust said they would comment further once more details were in place.

Martin Foley, chief executive of Life, an anti-abortion organisation that offers shelter and support to women who decide to have their baby despite challenging circumstances, said it was an inappropriate use of a church.

"It is disrespectful to use a church as an advice centre, as many Christians are largely against abortion.

"Life have a serious quarrel with these so-called pregnancy advice centres in general."

Unless there are objections to the application - so far there are none - Paul O'Connor, the city council's Principal Planning Officer, said officials with delegated powers would deal with the application on Thursday, April 21.

He said he anticipated no trouble as the changes were minor, and the premises had been used in a similar advisory role as a CAB centre.

The Diocese of Worcester said the charity had a long tradition of offering help and advice, and it was happy with the application.

"The diocese knows of the work of this long-established charity in Worcester, and of its counselling and education work giving pregnancy advice. The relevant diocesan committee has agreed that the work of the Cedar House Trust is a suitable use of the building," said a Diocese spokesman.