Premises in Logwood St, Blackburn may be used as a mosque but leaders must make sure they abide by planning conditions.

The councillors' decision, concerning the Shia mosque came after an 18-month council investigation.

A two-year temporary planning premission to use the site ended in October 2001, but Blackburn with Darwen councillors delayed a decision until officers could report back to them.

A report to the planning and highways committee said that officers had seen nothing of concern at the mosque apart from during the 10-day festival of Muhurram, or New Year, when activity increased "markedly."

But even then, according to the report, no breach of planning conditions were witnessed, and the volume of traffic was no greater. Resident Lorraine Chesterton, opposing the application on behalf of neighbours, said, "There have been plenty of occasions when events have taken place until the small hours of the morning, keeping people awake. There are often large volumes of traffic, so much so that emergency vehicles have had to stop, turn around and use a different route to get to places."

But a spokesman for the mosque told the meeting, "We are more than happy to abide by the rules laid down. We are doing nothing wrong and just want somewhere to worship."

Planning permission was granted subject to several conditions, including that no external call to prayer should be used, no more than 35 children should attend at any one time, no social functions should be held there and that it should be used only between 7am and 11pm except during Ramadan and Muhurram.

They must also provide 28 days' advance notification to neighbours and the council ahead of those festivals so people knew it will be open longer.

Meanwhile the mosque was damaged by fire and smoke in early April. A man has since been arrested and released on police bail.

DCI Neil Smith, said, "We are investigating an arson attack and are currently holding someone in custody.

"We are working closely with the mosque and are not investigating this attack as a racial incident.

"We believe there has been a conflict between two families linked with the mosque."

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to ring Blackburn CID on 01254 51212.