A PROJECT set to provide a safe place for the homeless this Christmas has had to be cancelled.

St Peter’s Church in Colchester was planning on running its annual guest house project in its hall from December 18.

But church members have had to pull the plug on the project after the hall was declared unsafe.

The Rev Mark Wallace said: “We were aware for several months that the church hall roof was not in good condition and we were monitoring it.

“It was last Sunday. We went into the hall and there was plaster on the floor and you could see daylight through the ceiling.

“We had hoped it was just a localised issue we would be able to easily repair but it turns out the roof is too damaged for a short term repair and it needs a complete replacement.

“We were due to open the guest house from December 18 and clearly the roof will be nowhere near ready by that time.

“We are just very much hoping to continue it in future winters.”

Builders have looked at the hall, which is now shut, and estimated it could cost up to £50,000 to fix.

Mr Wallace said he was looking at approaching other companies for quotes but they hoped to be fundraising for the money soon as the cost will exceed what the church has in reserves.

It would have been the fifth year the guest house project would have been run at St Peter’s Church Hall, on North Hill.

The project provides beds for up to 12 people as well as a hot dinner and breakfast.

However, it is not just the guest house which has had to be cancelled. The hall is home to groups across Colchester, which now find themselves looking for a new home.

Mr Wallace said: “We have a number of groups who meet in there through the week like mum and toddler groups.

“We have had to notify them over the weekend we won’t be able to continue them for the foreseeable future.”

The loss of the guest house means the homeless will have even less places to go this winter.

Colchester Emergency Night Shelter, which runs a safe place for the homeless all year round, will continue to have 20 beds each evening.

And Beacon House also offers a place during the day for the homeless to get warm and have a shower.

But it means 12 less beds will be available this Christmas.

Mr Wallace said he and his team of volunteers were incredibly sad the project could not go ahead this year.

He added: “It is disappointing but we hope to be back.”