Prayers will be said for the troubled diocese of Egypt as part of Women’s World Day of Prayer (WWDP).

The worldwide movement, involving 170 countries, led by Christian women, observes a common day of prayer each year for a country, traditionally on the first Friday of March.

This year a special service will be held at The Drive Methodist Church, in Ilford, offering an opportunity to say a prayer for Egypt’s Christian population.

Janet Crossland, the leader of the WWDP in Ilford, says more than a hundred religious buildings have been damaged in Cairo alone by civil unrest.

She said: “It is the [Diocese of] Egypt that has written the service for us.

Christians make up 12 per cent of the population but most of the beautiful churches have been destroyed in Cairo.”

Because of the recent unrest, Mrs Crossland said: “This service has certainly taken on added significance.”

Along with the Mayor of Redbridge Cllr Felicity Banks, who will be attending, Rosie Fyfe will speak on behalf of the diocese of Egypt at the service.

The 2pm service is The Drive Methodist Church, Ilford, IG1 3PP.