A Preston mosque that aims to raise thousands of pounds for aid in Iraq, is calling on other groups to join their campaign.

Clarendon Street Mosque, Avenham, launched its appeal on Monday and has already raised thousands of pounds. Now it is aiming to collect £25,000 in the next six weeks.

Leader at the mosque, Said Ahmed, said if they raise the cash they can buy goods to take to the Syrian border to help people fleeing the country who are currently struggling for basic essentials including water.

But the move has clashed with a Government backed aid initiative for Iraqi refugees launched which aims to drum up £7million for those caught up in the Gulf war crisis.

Mr Ahmed said, "My wife is expecting a baby so I don't think I'll be able to go. It shouldn't be too dangerous and we have run operations like this before where we targeted victims of famine in Ethiopia from nearby Sudan."

Members of the mosque are also planning to buy first aid kits, tents, blankets, water containers, antibiotics and stretchers from nearby countries such as Jordan.

Meanwhile, Islamic Relief, a registered charity based in Birmingham, arranged a meeting with Lancashire Council of Mosques to encourage Islamic groups in Preston to contribute funds to their campaign.

Dr Mahmood Chandia of the Lancashire Council of Mosques said that he would encourage the mosques to work together with Islamic Relief.

"A united effort is the best route forward and Islamic Relief have access to get inside Iraq," he said. "We do support individual ways of doing things and will continue to assist them."

But Mr Ahmed pointed out,"We will buy tents and goods and distribute them personally so that there's no question of the money being given away. Organisations like Islamic Relief have overheads like offices and wages, we don't have that problem."

The mosque is relying on donations and has already raised £1271.95 with contributions from Christian groups as well.

Islamic Relief launched their appeal on Tuesday in the House of Commons and have told United Nations officials they plan to raise £7million to provide food, clothing and water for people in the Middle East.

Athman Khan, the Blackburn representative for the charity, said: "We hope to raise cash for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Iraq and mobilise the British public in support of this project."

The charity has representatives in Baghdad and the unds will be used to buy goods in Dubai and Jordan and then transport them to the war zone.