A MOSQUE which has transformed a disused former British Legion club, held an open day to show the community how the building had been turned around.

The Jamia Masjid Minhaj-Ul-Quran mosque, in Brunswick Street, Nelson, has been brought back into use by the town's Asian community through volunteer work and donations.

The former British Legion branch had gone bankrupt and the building had lain empty for about 12 months before it was sold at auction to the Asian community.

That was three years ago but now former Mayor of Pendle Councillor George Adam, whose last official engagement was at the mosque open day, said the owners should be proud of how they had transformed it.

He said: "It is magnificent inside now.

"Members showed us around; there is a mosque downstairs where prayers are held and upstairs there is a function room for people from the Nelson community to use as long as they are not political or religious groups.

"It has been brought back into use for the community."

The building needed extensive work and extensions have also been added.

As well as local dignitaries, among those organisations who visited the mosque for the open day was the fire service and social services.

It was not the first time in a mosque for Coun Adam, who has also previously been invited to Nelson's main mosque on Clayton Street.

Councillor Adam added: "I am sure that there was quite a few people there who had not been in a mosque before and were quite surprised to see what they do in the community."