PLANS to develop an education centre attached to a mosque in Darwen have been passed by the borough council.

The proposed madrassa, which will be created in a vacant house in Victoria Street, will be attached to Madina Mosque which has been open for almost 25 years.

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The house has been a fly-tipping hot spot in the past and has been vacant for around two years.

The mosque has a madrassa where around 30 children are taught but often their classes are disturbed when a prayer needs to be offered.

The converted building will be solely used as a madrassa for the children already attending the mosque on Saturdays.

Agent Khalid Khan, of Khalid Khan and Associates, said the development was important for residents and the Islamic community.

He said: “We will be giving this building a new life as I know it has been vacant for about two years and has been a fly-tipping target.

“The existing mosque caters for a madrassa but when prayers need to be offered the children can get pushed into a corner, so it is important that they have this space.

“I am delighted that it has been passed and I hope it will benefit both the Islamic community and Darwen residents.”

The plans had been applied for by Imran Ahmed.

The news comes after plans were submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council to develop an Islamic education centre in Railway Road in place of The Railway pub.

The applicants behind that development split off from the group behind the one in Victoria Street.

The applicants for the Railway Road centre said it was needed due to growing demand.

A petition against the development has received 2,192 signatures.

The new premises in Victoria Street will be open between 4.30pm and 6pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Cllr Brian Taylor, borough and town councillor for Sunnyhurst, said: “I welcome this development. The site has been used for religion for as long as I can remember and I think it’s great for the Islamic community that they are going to have more space to educate children.

“I am very pleased to see this development passed.”