ANGRY residents have told a planning inquiry that siting a mosque in a Clitheroe town centre street would be a traffic accident waiting to happen.

But a government inspector heard county highways bosses had raised no objections to the scheme on road safety grounds.

Controversial plans to build the mosque at the back of an Islamic Education Centre in Holden Street came up before planning inspector Claire Sherratt in the Ribble Valley Council Chamber.

A three-year bid by Clitheroe's Muslim community for a mosque came to a halt last year, when councillors gave the scheme the thumbs-down for the second time.

Ribble Valley planning officers had recommended the scheme should be approved on conditions that religious worship should be kept to the extended building only, there should be no call to prayer and no singing.

But members of Ribble Valley Council's planning committee gave the scheme the thumbs-down by six votes to five -- on the same noise and traffic grounds that they refused a similar scheme in 1999.

Council planning officer John Macholc told the inquiry that use of the mosque at irregular hours and late-night activity would cause significant harm to the Holden Street community.

He said: "We expect people to travel to the mosque from other towns."

Resident Sheila Sims said: "Haphazard parking already causes immense traffic management problems at the site. It is wholly inappropriate for a mosque to be sited in a residential street, as any further increase in the volume and movement of vehicles is an accident waiting to happen."

Leeds solicitor Graham Connell, representing the trustees of the Islamic Education Centre, told the inquiry prayers would be held at the mosque at specific times between 4.30am and 10.30pm during the summer and 8am and 5pm in winter.

"The mixed character of the area, which includes a 24-hour Tesco and late-night vets, both across the road from the proposed mosque, means there is already significant movement and noise night and day. Only a limited number of people will be able to fit into the building. It will be more of a meeting room than a mosque.

Ward councillor Frank Dyson added: "I recognise that road safety is a matter of concern to residents, but the clogging of terrace streets is a problem for the whole of Clitheroe.

"The borough council has spent at least two years searching for an alternative site for the mosque, without success. It is the right of any community to have a place of worship."

The hearing was adjourned for a site visit. A decision is expected in six weeks.