He said in a statement: "We acknowledge the admission by Sony that the building in the game is Manchester Cathedral.

'Science fiction'

"We thank Sony for the apology they have made.

"However, we do not move from the position that we are against violence and especially the gun violence seen in this portrayal of the Cathedral."

The letter from Sony said: "We do not accept that there is any connection between contemporary issues of 21st Century Manchester and a work of science fiction in which a fictitious 1950s Britain is under attack by aliens.

"It is not our intention to cause offence by using a representation of Manchester Cathedral in chapter eight of the work. If we have done so we sincerely apologise."

Sony has not yet commented on the church's plea for the game to be removed from shop shelves.