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The government was warned to pay attention to hostile opposition to the draft mental health bill from members of the Church of England's synod, writes Katie Leason.

Members of the Synod voted unanimously in favour of a motion which asked the government "to take careful note of the wide response to the draft bill".

The motion advised the government to revise the text of the draft bill to take account of concerns, including the proposed inclusion of people with learning difficulties within the realm of compulsory treatment even when they do not have an additional mental health problem.

More than 200 people voted for the motion which also called for enough resources to be made available to implement the new legislation and for "a real alternative to prison" for people with mental health problems.

The Archdeacon of Lincoln, the Venerable Arthur Hawes, who proposed the motion, urged the government to wait and to seriously consider how to amend the Mental Health Act 1983.

"We are dealing with some of the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalised people in our society and with such a delicate issue as the detention of mentally ill people the government would be well advised to take time to reflect," he said.