Campaigners fighting to save a historic hall from demolition said without it there would “be no panto” in the area.

They said it was one of the main factors their petition to halt plans to knock down Sir James Hawkey Hall, Broomhill Road, Woodford Green, had “such a strong response” at full council last night.

One of the members of the deputation addressing the chamber said: “There was a very raw, emotional response to this. We had 700 signatures [for the petition] in two days, it was quite obvious one of the main factors is the panto.”

The petition to block the move to replace it with a community facility and housing has been signed by more than 2,000 people.

Addressing the deputation at Redbridge Town Hall, High Road, Ilford, cabinet member for Civic Pride Cllr Dev Sharma (Lab, Newbury) said the building was “only a small part of a substantial site”.

“In 1945 it was identified for housing – for some reason it didn’t happen,” he said.

“It is recognised for housing at the moment, if we’re very desperate and if we cant build on brown sites, where else can we build?”