PRESTON'S newest mosque has played host to a two-day international Islamic religious festival.

The £1m Noor Mosque, in Noor Street, Deepdale, opened last month, was chosen as the venue for the latest International Sunni Ijtema religious conference.

The conference, last weekend, August 25-26, was run by the International group, Sunni Dawate Islami.

Islamic scholars from across the world attend to give lectures at the annual event.

Al Yusuf, a former director of the Noor Mosque, said: "This year the event has an emphasis on young people after the incidents in Oldham. The festival was aimed at teaching young people how to live with their neighbours, as well as how to practise Islam."

The festival has been held in the UK for the last seven years, with last year's event in Bolton. This year the Noor Mosque in Preston was the ideal venue for the latest festival.

Al Yusuf said: "Now we have the facilities at the Mosque, and in other places in Preston, the Noor Mosque was chosen as the venue.

"The aim of the festival was really to remind people what Islam was all about. There were several thousand people there and it was a success with no trouble at all."

Moulana Shakir Razivi, the spiritual leader of the religious group who organised the festival, summed up the conference. He said "The aim of the Sunni Dawate Islami is to enhance the Islamic religion among Muslims and teach the holy Koran and the sayings of the prophet Mohammed."