JEHOVAH’S Witnesses have come out on top in an unholy row over their plans for a new centre in a Northumberland market town.

The group has been involved in a war of words with the vicar of a church in Berwick over its planning application for a new Kingdom Hall.

The vicar at the church at Scremerston objected to the proposal claiming Jehovah’s Witnesses are not Christians.

The group – which had snubbed an “unacceptable” suggestion that it share space with a town church – hit back, insisting nothing could be further from the truth.

Now, the row has been resolved with the group being given planning approval. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have been based at West End in Tweedmouth since 1971 but a new hall is needed due to the high costs of maintaining the current site.

A single storey premises is needed to make access easier for its elderly members.

The application was submitted by the Berwick KH Project, and sought permission for a single storey place of “Christian” worship, south of Derwentwater Terrace.

However, four letters of objection were submitted to Northumberland County Council by residents, while Ancroft Parish Council also voiced its opposition.

One of the letters was from Rev Matthew Knox, vicar of St Peter’s Church.