A war memorial dedicated to three soldiers who died in World War One will remain in storage this Remembrance Sunday, despite hundreds of people urging the church to reinstate it.

Nearly 400 people have signed a petition calling on Epsom Methodist Church to erect the plaque it took down in 2006, and 94 per cent of those who took part in an online poll on epsomguardian.co.uk backed the call.

Jenny King, the granddaughter of one of the soldiers killed, has also come forward to ask the plaque be reinstated.

But despite that the church has insisted that it will not consider the issue until January. Julie Underwood, acting superintendent minister for the church, said: “Members of Epsom Methodist Church are encouraged by the local community's determination to remember and honour those who lost their lives in past wars.

“The plaque was removed several years ago and requests have only been received in the past few weeks to consider reinstatement.

“As we are a large church community, decisions cannot always be taken as quickly as people might wish.”

Local historian Clive Gilbert who first raised the issue said: “I’m pleased with the petition in that everybody I have asked with about one exception has signed it and has been please to do so.

“I’m disappointed that they are not putting it up for November.

“I wait with keenness to see what their answer is in January and I’m quite happy to put it up for them.”

A member of Epsom Methodist Church, who wishes to remain anonymous, defended the church’s decision saying that because the church has not had a caretaker for the last nine months due to building work the plaque would be ‘at risk’ if returned.

He added: “People at the time tried their hardest to trace these people’s relatives.

“They failed whereas this gentleman succeeded and for that we are grateful.

“We will be remembering everyone past and present this Sunday.”

The church will be holding a service on Remembrance Day at 10.30am followed by an All Souls service at 6.30 pm when individuals who have died will be remembered.