MUSLIMS across Lancashire have joined three million people on an annual once-in-a-lifetime religious pilgrimage.

Pilgrims across the world have travelled to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the most holy city in Islam, to perform a week-long holy pilgrimage (Hajj) which began today.

According to the Koran, every Muslim should make a pilgrimage to Mecca, the birthplace of the prophet Mohammed at least once in their life.

Millions will today make a journey from Mecca to Mina, a small desert area which is five kilometres from Mecca, where tents temporarily accommodate millions of pilgrims.

It is here where the Stoning of the Devil ritual takes place between sunrise and sunset on the last day of the Hajj.

Although pilgrims are thousands of miles away in Saudi Arabia, Lancashire Muslims will also celebrate the end of Hajj with Eid.

Moulana Hanif Dudhwala, of the Lancashire Mosques Forum, said: "My nephew and his wife have gone to do Hajj this year and are in Mecca now. I have received a text from them to say they will soon be leaving for Mina.

"There are no words to describe the journey. I went with my wife and two children two years ago.

"It was very emotional and it is an experience I will never forget.

"Every year my children think about their experiences during Hajj time."

Saudi Arabia health ministry said more than 9,600 medical personnel have been mobilised and 21 field hospitals have been set up at Mecca and Medina.

Lancashire Telegraph health expert Dr Tom Smith said: "Muslims from countries such as Africa, Indonesia, India, Malaysia the far East as well as European countries all come travel to Mecca and Medina.

"The close proximatey of people on the Hajj means there is a possibility of contracting all sorts of infections including ones that are no longer common in England like polio.

"Muslims are often in crowded conditions during the Hajj, the closer they are to each other the more likely respiratory infections may be transferred including tuberculosis.

"If anyone starts to feel ill within a month of returning they should go immediately to their doctor and inform them they have come back from Hajj, hepatitis for example has an incubation period.

"In previous years, people have been crushed and died. In comparison the numbers who receive personal injuries are small compared to the numbers who fall ill.

"I would never stop Muslims going to Hajj as it is part of Islamic belief, but those who go should be careful."