A church has finally agreed to reinstate a war memorial it removed six years ago following huge pressure from the community including a 500 signature petition.

A brass plaque, dedicated to three soldiers who died during World War One and were members of the Epsom Methodist Church in Ashley Road, was removed when the church was refurbished in 2006.

But instead of re-instating the plaque, the church council decided to pass it to Bourne Hall Museum believing it was no longer relevant as no relatives remained in the area or had voiced any concerns.

Last October, following research by local historian Clive Gilbert, this newspaper broke the story that it had lain in storage there for the past six years.

Jenny King, granddaughter of one of the soldiers, Bombardier Robert Butland, then came forward to ask it be reinstated and nearly 500 more signed a petition started by Mr Gilbert.

The church council met of Tuesday, January 24, to review the decision and the minister, Reverend Nick Oborski said: "We are pleased to announce that we will be reinstating the plaque and are in the process of deciding exactly where it will be sited in the building. We have heard that this is what our community wants and we are grateful to them for making their concerns known to us. We are deeply encouraged by the community's determination to remember and honour those who lost their lives in past wars."

On learning of the church's decision Mr Gilbert said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I think it’s the right decision at last. I would like there to be a little bit of a ceremony as well and hopefully they will keep people informed. With so much vandalism of war memorials going on I think we need to honour these memorials.”

At the meeting a majority voted in favour of reinstating the plaque however Residents Association Councillor Neil Dallen, a trustee and member of the Epsom Methodist Church Council, abstained.

He said: “Personally I didn’t feel strongly either way. There was one person who wrote in who was a relative of one of the three people. She doesn’t live locally but was a member of a church and felt it should be put back and I think that’s what swayed it for me. That one person actually did make a difference as to me that’s a good reason for putting it back and without that I would have voted against it coming back. The petition in my view wasn’t as relevant or important as the one person who could say yes I know that person and was related to that person. It’s quite easy to get people to sign a petition if you raise an issue. That doesn’t mean the petition is worthless, but it is worth less than 500 people all feeling strongly enough to individually write in.”

The three men of Epsom Methodist Church who fell during World War One are: • Private Selling Daniel Smith, 24, killed in action on September 4, 1915.

He is buried in Maroc British Cemetery, Grenay, France.

He is also remembered on his parent’s grave in Epsom Cemetery.

• Gunner William Clifford, 42, died of wounds on July 20, 1917.

He is buried in Dozinghem British Cemetery, Belgium.

William left a widow and two children aged ten and eleven.

• Bombardier Robert Butland, 31, died of wounds on, September 26, 1918.

He is buried in Duisains British Cemetery, France.

Robert left a widow and a one year-old son.