Littlemoor has come of age, according to church-goers who want to create a 21st century parish in the area.

The congregation at St Francis of Assisi Church are hoping they can become a parish church in their own right instead of remaining the daughter church attached to St Andrew's, Preston, Weymouth.

And they want to hear the views of the people of the area on the matter before any firm decision is made.

The Vicar at St Francis, the Rev Antony MacRow-Wood said: "We are consulting about St Francis becoming the parish church for the greater Littlemoor area - which stretches from the railway line to the proposed Brown Route.

"Currently it is a daughter church within the Parish of Preston with Sutton Poyntz. The change of status would recognise both how the church and the community have grown and come of age.

"The main affect of the change would be that weddings and baptisms from Littlemoor would look in the first instance to come to St Francis but since we would remain in the wider Preston Team it would still be possible for people to have weddings and baptisms at St Andrew's."

The team congregations at Littlemoor, Preston and Osmington have already agreed the move - but now the church wants to hear from local people. Mr MacRow-Wood said: "We've already put leaflets out to all the houses in Littlemoor to let them know about the proposal. The church has been here for 15 years now and we are an established community in our own right. Financially we stand on our own two feet.

"Creating a new parish is largely a symbolic thing which recognises this is a community which deserves its own parish church.

"It is quite rare for a new parish to be created - usually it is the other way round these days, and parishes are merged with one another."

"We will still remain part of the Preston team and if the move gets the go-ahead we will be known as the Parish of Littlemoor, a name we will be proud of."

Anyone with views for or against the idea can write to Mr MacRow-Wood at St Francis of Assisi Church, Merredin Close, Littlemoor, Weymouth DT3 6SJ.