A family fun day in Blackburn raised £35,000 to help with the extension of one of the town’s oldest mosques.

The Masjid-e-Rizwan off Futhergate is undergoing a major extension and volunteers have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to fund the project.

As well as raising funds for the extension, the mosque said the fun day aims to invite neighbours to meet mosque members.

The event featured a range of stalls selling food and gifts as well as activities for young children.

A mosque spokesperson said: “Staff and volunteers worked tirelessly on the day to ensure that a welcoming atmosphere and excellent service were key features, encouraging attendees to dine with us and to enjoy the holistic fun day experience. 

“Volunteers as young as eight years old were able to gain valuable life-skills as they played an integral part in the success of the activities on offer.  

“Perhaps most tangible and compelling was the sense of common purpose, unity, togetherness and harmony.”

The mosque thanked all those who helped on the day.

The spokesperson added: “The extraordinary generosity demonstrated on the day is evident in a record-breaking total raised of £35,000. This total is testament to the commitment, diligence and hard work of every individual, regardless of their role, on the day.  

“Heartfelt and humble thanks for each donation, no matter how small, which has resulted in this phenomenal total being achieved.  

“These funds will be used towards the internal electrics and plumbing as the extension project enters its next phase.”