THE future of a Muslim community centre in Blackburn was in doubt today after a row over a £300,000 donation from an £18million lottery winner.

The framework of the £700,000 community centre, on land between Ash Street and Plane Street, has been in place for more than six months and was financed with the help of a donation from the Blackburn man nicknamed Mr Millions after he won the lottery in December 1994.

But it appears that members of the nearby Masjid Al Momineen Mosque, whose Kokni Muslim Society is behind the scheme, hit problems with the plan when Muslims failed to donate the remainder of the cash needed on religious grounds.

A committee member at the Ash Street mosque, who did not want to be named, said that originally an Islamic study centre had been proposed on the site, and the council gave planning permission.

But once it became clear that money from the lottery winner - who the Lancashire Evening Telegraph has never named following a poll of readers - would be involved, the use of the building was changed to a community centre.

An Islamic study centre funded from lottery winnings was considered inappropriate as gambling is forbidden in the Koran. Many members of the Muslim community continued to have misgivings however.

The committee member said: "Usually when a new community centre is being built, people from the Muslim community all over the country are asked to donate money and do so willingly.

"But in this case people knew about the lottery winner's donation and that gambling is forbidden in the teachings of the Koran.

"The elders at the mosque are well versed in these teachings and should have known better. Trying to oppose the creator will get them nowhere.

"I would say that out of the 160 members of the mosque around 25 are totally opposed to what has gone on."

A mosque official confirmed the £300,000 lottery winner's money had been received.

He said: "Yes, we have had some lottery cash - who does not want lottery cash these days."

Despite several attempts by to contact the general secretary of the mosque, Mr Mohammed, he has not been available for comment. Residents in Plane Street say they are fed up of looking out from their homes on to the empty shell of the community centre.

Jack Knowles said: "The whole business has been an absolute disgrace and it is about time somebody did something."

Taj Ahmed, whose take away chip shop faces the site, added: "I quite often have to go out there myself and remove chip papers and trays because while the site is in the state it is, there is the temptation for people just to throw their rubbish in the street.

Blackburn with Darwen Council planning and environment officers say they are aware of the situation and are monitoring the area.

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