SHELL-SHOCKED Muslim leaders were today reeling from a council decision to refuse plans for a controversial mosque.

A packed meeting saw councillors reject an application to sell the land at the former council depot in Kirkmoor Road, Clitheroe, to the Islamic Education Trust.

Instead, councillors on Ribble Valley Council's policy and finance committee voted to develop the site solely for elderly people's sheltered bungalows.

It is the fifth time in six years that Muslim plans for a mosque in the town had been rejected by councillors - and they attacked the council for suggesting the scheme and giving them false hope.

Previously, applications involved the Islamic Education Centre in Holden Street, Clitheroe.

Councillors, led by Conservative council leader John Hill, voted to develop the site for housing and reject proposals for a mosque, a carpentry business and a CCTV company on the site.

The ruling party rejected another proposal by the Lib Dems to develop the site for housing and a mosque.

Around 100 people crammed into the public gallery and the Town Hall reception, where they watched the meeting on a television link. About 20 British National Party supporters held a small demonstration against the plans outside.

Speaking after the meeting, Sheraz Arshad of the Medina Islamic Centre, said: "This is a terrible blow to us. It is a travesty and the council should be ashamed for pandering to the propaganda of the BNP.

"Developing housing and looking after minority groups are both priorities for this council and they had the chance to do both. But they turned it down because they had to vote along political lines.

"I recently told councillors that five Muslim families have left the Ribble Valley because they felt unwelcome."

Coun Graham Sowter, deputy leader of the Lib Dems, said the decision would damage the council's reputation outside the Ribble Valley.

Members had deferred a decision on the matter at a meeting on September 21 because they wanted to assess the suitability of the site for development and the impact of any development on residents.

A report by council chief executive David Morris concluded that house prices would not be adversely affected by a mosque and set out a number of options for the site, including a housing development.

Coun Hill told the meeting: "We have to maximise what little land we have for houses. We have a waiting list of 102 people for elderly people's bungalows."