POLICE are planning a high-profile operation to deter trouble before tonight's pivotal meeting on Clitheroe's mosque plan.

Dozens of mosque supporters are expected to come face-to-face with up to 100 BNP sympathisers before the meeting of Ribble Valley Council's policy and finance committee.

Extra officers will be drafted in from neighbouring towns to help police the protesters, while evidence-gathering teams will sit in the meeting, held in the council chambers.

The council will once again record the proceedings in a bid to deter trouble.

Councillors will be asked whether they want to sell land at the former council depot in Kirkmoor Road, Clitheroe, to the town's Islamic Education Trust.

Members 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.

Mosque supporters are to gather at the Islamic Centre in Holden Street, where plans for a mosque have been repeatedly turned down, before walking to the council chambers in Church Street.

At the same time, between 50 and 100 British National Party supporters are expected to protest against the mosque plans outside the building.

The party said it had leafleted around 5,000 homes in the town in the run-up to the meeting.

Inspector Bob Ford of Clitheroe police said: "Everybody has rights and responsibilities and we will not tolerate any unacceptable behaviour.

"We will have a high-visibility presence in the town before and during the meeting and will have sufficient officers, including some from other areas, to police the meeting.

"We have also been talking to the council about arrangements."

Muslim leader Sheraz Arshad described the walk in support of the mosque as a 'show of solidarity'.

He added: "Traditionally, I have asked our supporters to stay away from these meetings because they cannot affect the outcome.

"But with so many people being against the mosque and the council's apparent willingness to be swayed by them, I thought we needed to show that we had plenty of support as well."

A spokesman for the BNP said that the majority of people in Clitheroe did not want a mosque and party supporters would join residents in protesting against the plans.