MUSLIM leaders in Clitheroe have welcomed moves by councillors to find a new site for a mosque in the town.

Senior Ribble Valley councillors have worked with the Muslim community to identify a possible site for the place of worship, but the exact location is being kept under wraps until later this month.

Last August councillors gave plans for a mosque in Holden Street the thumbs down for the fourth time on the grounds of traffic congestion and noise disturbance, even though it would be sited in a terrace house and used by only 15 worshippers.

Since June this year Muslims have been using the council chamber in Ribble Valley Town Hall, in Church Street, Clitheroe, once a week for prayers.

Muslim community leader Sheraz Arshad said: "Previously our relationship with the council wasn't all it should be, but it is now making positive noises.

"We have agreed a site in principle, but it is down to the council to decide how, when and if they want to sell it.

"In the interests of the whole community in Clitheroe we thought it would be better to start looking at other sites.

"Also, the weekly prayers at the town hall have been a success, with around 15 people turning up. This does show that we were never trying to build a big venue for loads of Muslims to descend onto Clitheroe from across Lancashire. It was only ever going to be for local people."

Council leader John Hill said: "We have, with the help of the Muslim community, identified a possible site for a mosque in Clitheroe.

"I'm not going to say where it is at this stage because a report is being prepared for the finance and policy committee which meets on September 21.

"This has nothing to do with the refusal by the planning authority for the application for a mosque in Holden Street.

"That was turned down for legitimate planning reasons and that was upheld on appeal.

"We are honouring our previously stated commitment to work with the Muslim community."