The Church of England is seeking legal action against entertainment company Sony for featuring Manchester Cathedral in a war battle computer game.

Sony Playstation's 'Resistance: Fall of Man' uses the interior of the cathedral's nave without permission.

Players of the PS3 game assume the role of an army sergeant who has been given a mission to win a battle.

The game, which has sold more than one million copies, shows a virtual shoot-out in the cathedral's nave.

Hundreds of soldiers are killed during the battle inside the cathedral.

The Church say Sony did not ask for permission to use the cathedral and has demanded an apology and the removal of the game from shop shelves - otherwise legal action will be considered.

Sony has not returned calls from Church officials.

'Beyond belief'

The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, has described the decision to feature the city's cathedral as "highly irresponsible" - especially in the light of Manchester's history of gun crime.

"It is well know that Manchester has a gun crime problem," he said.

Sony Playstation scene of the interior of Manchester Cathedral
The game consists of a virtual shoot-out between gunmen

"For a global manufacturer to re-create one of our great cathedrals with photo-realistic quality and then encourage people to have guns battles in the building is beyond belief and highly irresponsible.

"Here in Manchester we do all we can to support communities through our parish clergy. We know the reality of gun crime and the devastating effects it can have on lives. It is not a trivial matter."

The Dean of Manchester Cathedral, The Very Revd Rogers Govender, also hit out at Sony's decision to feature the cathedral, claiming it was "undermining" the work of the church.

"We are shocked to see a place of learning, prayer and heritage being presented to the youth market as a location where guns can be fired.

"This is an important issue. For many young people these games offer a different sort of reality and seeing guns in Manchester Cathedral is not the sort of connection we want to make.

"Every year we invite hundreds of teenagers to come and see the cathedral and it is a shame to have Sony undermining our work."

No-one from Sony was available for comment.

However, David Wilson, a Sony spokesman, told The Times newspaper: "It is game-created footage, it is not video or photography.

"It is entertainment, like Doctor Who or any other science fiction. It is not based on reality at all. Throughout the whole process we have sought permission where necessary."