Elderly residents at a sheltered housing complex in Lancashire have been told to take down religious artefacts to "promote diversity".

The ban has been issued in a letter to people living in all 40 of the flats at the Places for People-run St Paul's Court, in Preston.

It warns they must remove crosses or other signs of religious faith from communal areas at the complex.

The ban has been criticised by both local Christian and Muslim leaders.

The letter notifies residents of the ruling and states: "The reason being that St Paul's Court is a sheltered housing scheme which promotes diversity amongst its residents and visitors."

It goes on to ask elderly residents to volunteer to become "equality and diversity" champions.

A spokesman for Places for People, whose income is partly taxpayer-funded through housing benefits from residents, could not say exactly what the "offending" items were.

Local reports say some residents had put up small statues of Jesus and Our Lady in communal lounge areas.

The home is named after the local church in honour of St Paul, the apostle regarded as the founder of Christianity following Jesus' teachings.

Father Andrew Teather, minister at Preston Minster, criticised the ban and asked for a re-think by People for Places.

He said: "I would describe this as removing people's dignity and respect in their old age.

"I would ask them to put themselves in the position of their own residents.

"I have never found any religious tension between people of different faiths, although one often finds antagonism from people who are not themselves religious towards people who are.

"Rather than having to appoint equality and diversity officers, why don't they encourage people to speak to their next door neighbours?"

In a statement, Places for People said: "St Paul's has a long tradition of embracing and promoting cultural diversity both within the scheme and the local community.

"Following a number of meetings with residents we asked people to remove artefacts from communal areas such as the lounge.

"This does not affect individuals' right to display religious artefacts within their own home, or in the immediate vicinity."