MUSLIMS in Preston have accused the borough council of overestimating the number of graves left in the town for members of their community.

A report, presented to the town's environment committee, claims 990 spaces will be available if a further plot of land in the town's cemetery, in Miller Road, is cleared. Council officers believe it will provide enough space for the Muslim community for another 31 years.

Local Muslims have already said that they need more spaces, and had hoped to use the London Road running track.

Councillors have so far rejected that idea - now Muslim leaders have hit out at the latest report, claiming it is politically motivated.

Vali Patel, and county councillors and chairman of the Muslim Burial Society, said: "If the trees and shrubs are cleared then it will create spaces.

"But there is no way 990 graves can go there. At best there will be 700. I believe this report has been timed to wreck our chances of getting the running track."

He added: "It will cost the council £50,000 to clear this space and a further £20,000 to put up fencing. And when the trees are cleared, burials will be taking place 10 yards away from peoples' homes."

Preston Borough Council "The report is lays out the plans for the future and shows what work needs carrying out."

According to the report, if a further space of land has drainage installed, members of the Church of England can carry on burying their dead for another 10 years, while Roman Catholics have 16 years before their allotted space is full.

However, the report says with an average of six non-conformists dying a year, it will be 68 years before they have to look elsewhere.

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