DEMOLITION is underway ahead of a project to build a new mosque in Accrington.

Yesterday an industrial ‘muncher’ machine began the process of pulling down the current mosque at the junction of Higher Antley Street and Fountain Street.

The scheme was granted planning permission earlier this year and will create a new three-storey building featuring decorative minarets and a dome.

Coun Munsif Dad said: “This is something that we need and something that the area needs as well.

"The mosque has a few hundred members and the vast majority of members live within walking distance of that area.”

The existing building on the site was formerly a church and has been used as a mosque for many years.

The new building will be used in a similar way to the existing mosque for normal service on Fridays. There will be children's classes on Monday to Friday between 5pm and 7pm and the five daily prayers will continue.

There will be no weddings in the mosque and funeral gatherings will take place for no longer than 30 minutes.

The ground floor will provide a prayer area for men, the first floor for women and the top floor provides a teaching area.

Andrew Granger, MD of PG Demolition in Rochdale, said: “The demolition work will take around two weeks.”