POLICE patrolled outside a Pendle mosque during the main prayers of the week after concern there may be a disturbance among worshippers.

About six officers and two patrol vans were stationed near the Clayton Street mosque in Nelson yesterday lunchtime at the request of its members.

The move followed heightened tensions between different members of the Jamia Ghousia mosque.

It is believed some complained the membership of the mosque committee which runs the building was changed while they were out of the country.

The prayers, which are attended by hundreds of worshippers each week, went off without incident.

Chief Inspector John Massey of Pendle police, said: "There was some concern among members of the mosque that there may be some trouble. We also had some concerns but it was the community itself that asked us to show a presence at the mosque.

"We deployed a small number of officers for the safety and peace of mind of the community and we were there to support them."

Mr Massey said the operation was low-key and carried out in a sensitive manner. The disagreement is being resolved by mosque members and was not a police matter, he added.

The police disclosed this week that they are setting up a new communities and minorities team of seven officers in the Pennine division, which covers Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, to liaise with the Asian and gay communities.

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