A MOSQUE designed for 20 families is set to be closed down during a holy festival after a breach of planning conditions which saw up to 1,000 people attending prayers.

Blackburn's Shia Muslim community have been using part of the redundant Jubilee Mill, in Logwood Street, Blackburn, for two years after they were granted temporary planning permission.

Now that planning permission is up for renewal, and Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning and highways committee have been advised to refuse the request after complaints from residents.

Their planning permission runs out on December 16 when the holy fasting festival of Ramadan ends and the festival of Eid begins. Permission was granted in 1999 when councillors were told the site would be used by 20 local Shia Muslim families.

But a report to the committee claims that the number of visitors often risen to 250 or even 1,000 people, due to the fact there are so few Shia mosques in East Lancashire and people travel from all over.

Objections from residents -- including a 21-signature petition -- claim that noise nuisance is a regular problem, while the large number of people visiting the complex causes a parking nightmare. But Mohammed Hussain, from the mosque, said: "This building is soundproofed so noise from here cannot be a problem.

"And there are not that many Shia Muslims in Lancashire and Yorkshire.

"If we are thrown out, we will have nowhere to worship during Ramadan, one of our holiest months. That is something we do not want to happen.

"It is worrying for us all, men, women, children and young men. We do not know what we will we do if we are thrown out."

The council's technical services department has recommended the application be refused on the grounds that the space the mosque and madressa -- a Muslim religious school -- would normally demanded the provision of 37 parking space and a cycle-park stand. The mosque currently provides five, with parking spaces belonging to residents often being used instead.

And the environmental health department is also opposed to the plans after they carried out two investigations into noise nuisance. A statement from them says that loud music and the noise of large numbers of people coming and going from the mosque is having a detrimental affect on the quality of life for residents.

The petition adds: "If an emergency situation came about, fire and ambulance vehicles would not be able to get through because so many cars, mini-buses and coaches are blocking the way."

Separate letters from residents also complain of late-night functions.

Mr Mohammed said he would be attending the planning meeting to speak to the committee.

Assistant Director of Regeneration, Housing and Neighbourhoods for Blackburn with Darwen Council, Peter Kuit, said it was their understanding Ramdan and Eid would be over by the time the planning permission expired: "The report makes recommendations based on planning regulations and the item appears on the agenda at this time as temporary permission for the use of the premises as a mosque expires on December 16."

Ibrahim Master, chairman of Lancashire Council of Mosques, said: "I would hope the council will look at this carefully. I cannot see how a mosque can make that much noise.

"I would also hope they would not have to leave during Ramadam."

Coun Salim Mulla, a member of the planning and highways committee on Thursday who will not be attending the meeting through ill health, said: "I have read the report and can see why this recommendation has been made.

"It will look very bad for this to go through during Ramadan."