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Jehova's Witnesses have quashed rumours that the bid to bring their headquarters to Chelmsford could collapse due to financial turmoil.

The International Bible Students' Association (IBSA), the organisation which circulates the Christian group's literature, said on Monday that the construction in Temple Farm in West Hanningfield will continue.

An anonymous source contacted Essex Live on Friday claiming a woman in the IBSA's construction department confirmed the project would terminate.

The man, a current Jehovah's Witness member, said: "Something major is going on with the organisation financially."

The IBSA did however confirm it was pulling the plug on other construction projects worldwide.

Stephen Morris, IBSA's personnel support manager at its branch relocation department, said: "In order to make best use of contributed funds, some construction projects worldwide will be delayed or cancelled.

"However, we are pleased to confirm that the Temple Farm project will continue. We still have a very active workforce on site, and we have no intention or directive to close down or sell the site at Temple Farm."

Mr Morris added that all the old buildings, which included car breakers garages, have been demolished at the 50-acre site off Stock Road.

He added that workers are preparing for utility firms to enter the site to get readypave the way for building work.

The Essex Chronicle exclusively revealed in January 2014 how the IBSA is relocating the headquarters from Mill Hill in north London and build a printing plant producing up to 184,000 religious magazines an hour, accommodation for up to 1,200 Witnesses, parking for 1,040 vehicles and a hospital and playing fields.