ONE local church has pledged to keep its door open to homeless Simon Frodsham - despite the Fylde-wide ban imposed on him by the courts.

David Phillips, minister of the White Church, says the civil courts have no right to tell him who is allowed into the church.

Mr Frodsham was arrested at a St Annes Church last week accused of breaching the Anti-Social Behaviour Order which bans him from churches across the Fylde.

"The church has an open door to anybody," he said: "for them to say he has been banned from our church is completely out of order. I just want to put on record that Jesus Christ bans no-one from the church.

"Simon is a person of limited means and I do what I can to help him, and I know I am one of many people who do so.

"People whose needs are greater than ours, who have more limited means, do present a challenge.

"Most of the people in Ansdell and Fairhaven live in houses that are valued at between £150,000 and £200,000. It must be one of the wealthiest boroughs in the country. This exclusion order is just salving the consciences of people living here.

He added: "The Christian Gospel does not ban or exclude anyone, and the church does not exist to serve the great and the good but those who are most in need.

"As always, we remain ready to assist anyone who comes to us for help and will do so in any way we can.

"I cannot speak for the priest of Our Lady's Church where Simon Frodsham was arrested, but had six policemen entered my church intent upon arresting someone at prayer I would have considered it an outrage. There are other ways of dealing with such matters."

Frodsham, 32, of no fixed address, appeared at Preston Crown Court on Friday (March 7) to attempt to overturn the five-year ASBO, which bans him from entering Ansdell and Lytham centres, churches and church buildings in Fylde borough and Fylde Rugby Club.

He must return to the crown court on April 6 after Judge David Boulton decided to adjourn the case.

This was to give both prosecution and defence time to properly prepare given the "extensive" documentary evidence involved in the hearing.

"It would be simply unrealistic to try and deal with the matter today," Judge Boulton told the court.

He reminded Mr Frodsham that the ASBO, imposed by Blackpool Magistrates on Jan 24, was still in force and that breaching any of its conditions could lead to arrest.