A lounge used to toast the finer points of Swindon Town's matchplay is set to be used to worship God.

Swindon Family Church is again applying to use Winners Lounge, within the north stand at the County Ground, for prayer when there is no home match.

And town planners, who meet on Monday, will be advised to grant the move up to the end of 2003.

Services have already been held by the Swindon Family Church in the Winner's Lounge.

More than 200 people attended the first service earlier this year but the services then had to stop because the council told the church it was breaking licensing rules.

The church also holds services at the Pinehurst People's Centre, but leaders say they have run out of space at other venues in the town.

Winner's Lounge has the capacity to hold about 500 people and there is car parking next to the stand.

The move, if granted, will be conditional that services are restricted to between 9.30am and 1pm on Sundays when there is no home game.

Noise generated from worshippers will also not be able to exceed background noise when measured from houses in County Road and Shrivenham Road.

The church has succeeded in attracting nearly 300 teenagers and young adults to religion while other churches have had dwindling congregations.

Its members met council officials to go over planning rules and discuss how it could continue using the Winners Lounge.

Reverend Brian Kille said: "We did have a bit of blip because we couldn't understand why there was a need for planning permission for a change of use.

"But the journey has been quite good and we have found both the council and the club very positive.

"We know people have a pint after matches in the Winner's Lounge we join them.

"A church is about the people, not the building. Whether it is a school, conference facility or football stadium, that is fine."