PLANS to move Muslims out of a converted working men's club and into a purpose-built mosque have been unveiled.

Community leaders in Accrington are hoping a feasibility study will back plans to create a mosque on wasteland in the Lower Antley area of the town.

Muslims in the area currently use a former working mens' club in the town as their Mosque.

Under plans unveiled to Hyndburn councillors this week, a new mosque would be built with some funding possibly coming from the £7million Single Regeneration Bid windfall, which was pumped into the West Accrington area last year.

The land has been an empty site since Hyndburn Council cleared it of run-down houses using compulsory purchase powers three years ago.

Since then the land has become unsightly, says a report to the council, and is prone to rubbish dumping.

Hyndburn Council has no plans to redevelop the area at the moment.

But Nigel Rix, director of Hyndburn FIRST, the borough's regeneration arm, said today: "The land is close to the Lower Antley Mosque, use of which has, in recent years, tended to exceed its physical capacity, both as a place of worship and as a venue for religious education for children and young people.

"Representatives from the local Asian heritage community have approached the council to explore the possibility of the disused land at Lower Antley Street being earmarked for a potential mosque development.

"Such a project would be consistent with the objectives of the SRB6 programme because it would enhance community facilities and improve the image and environment of the area.

"At this stage it would be premature to commit to a sale of the land without a feasibility study to prove that the scheme would be achievable and affordable.

"The community leaders have asked us to earmark the land before they begin that study."

Permission for this was granted by councillors at a meeting of the policy and resources committee.

A spokesman for the mosque said: "It is already necessary for some of the after school activities with children to be held in alternative premises in Blackburn Road which aren't really suitable.

"This would be a giant step forward for us."