AS Sheraz Arshad joined the great and good of the Ribble Valley on its Remembrance Sunday parade, he felt Clitheroe's small Muslim community had finally been accepted.

Invited to sit among dignitaries to honour the sacrifice made by British soldiers, he hoped it would represent the coming together of different faiths and offer a brighter future for the 200-plus Muslims in the town.

But just three days later his community was left reeling from a more realistic assessment of where they stood - as Ribble Valley councillors voted to block plans for a mosque for the fifth time in six years.

Led by council leader John Hill, the policy and finance committee rejected the Medina Islamic Centre's application to buy a chunk of council land at its former depot in Kirkmoor Road, Clitheroe, and instead opted to develop it for elderly people's homes.

It was a decision based partly on a 2002 housing needs survey that pinpointed a desperate shortfall in the Ribble Valley.

But for Sheraz, a second generation Muslim in Clitheroe, it represented final confirmation Muslims are not yet part of mainstream society in this affluent market town.

"For a brief moment it felt wonderful to truly be part of this town," explained the 29-year-old dad of three. "We joined the procession to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph. Then we were part of the congregation at St Mary's parish church that paid respects to people who fought and died for our freedom to worship, freedom of speech and way of life.

"Sitting in that church it was a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by people of different faiths - in fact it was quite emotional. I also thought, what would these people do if they had nowhere to worship like this?"

A growing sense of outrage at repeated rejections has also caused some to question the quality of democracy at the council. Members voted entirely along party lines in Tuesday's crucial debate, with the ruling Conservatives' proposals carrying the day.

Despite Clitheroe having a Muslim presence for 40 years - Sheraz's parents arrived in the 1960s to work at Castle Cement - the growing population has never had an official place of worship. Like Christianity, Islam expects its followers to worship collectively - in fact, it is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with giving at least 2.5 per cent of your wealth to charity.

Denied the opportunity to gather for prayer, the town's Muslim's were granted permission to worship once a week in Ribble Valley's council chambers in Church Street.

But with around 35 Muslim families settled in the town, most of them with third generation children in Clitheroe schools, Sheraz said it is not enough. He added: "We are still unable to assemble as a community - after 40 years that is shocking.

"My parents came here in the 60s and we are now as much part of the town as anyone else. Many of my generation have been to university - I graduated in law and politics and now work for Lancashire County Council - and they all contribute to society."

He went on: "But that is still not good enough for some people. My father, Mohammed Arshad, campaigned for a mosque for years but he died in 2000 with his wish unfulfilled. I have been forced to carry that fight on but it is taking its toll on me.

"It's taken me over in some respects and that is very stressful. But if I feel an injustice has been done then I don't stop. It's not really about my generation any more, it's about our children who have had to grow up without a place of worship.

"I took my four-year-old son to Mecca recently and he loved it. It's such a pity that he won't be able to worship that way in his home town. I'm fearful for the next generation of Muslims in this town."

Refusing to concede the fight for the mosque, Sheraz did admit he is not optimistic it will happen in the near future.

He added: "I'm not prepared to say what our next move might be but we owe it to our children to keep looking for a legitimate place of worship.

"Councillors might not realise it, but they are driving a wedge between the white and Muslim communities."