A new mosque is to be built in a street that forms the hub of Asian businesses.

Leaders at Noorul Islam Mosque, Audley Range, Blackburn, have been given permission to build a larger mosque on the opposite side of Dewhurst Street to the current building.

A divided planning committee at Blackburn with Darwen Council narrowly approved the development, despite 92 letters of objection and after being told by officers to turn it down.

Today Muslim leaders said the building would be a fantastic resource for the community.

The two-storey building will have two minarets, a dome, an arched entrance and traditional Islamic designed windows frosted with green tinted glass.

It will be about 30ft tall, with 20ft minarets on top, 79ft wide and 138ft long, with a total floorspace of about 21,000sq ft.

Ibrahim Wadee, vice-chairman of Islamic Education Society, said: "We are glad that the committee has seen that the benefits outweigh the negatives.

He said the current mosque, which has 450 members, was too small for worshippers, forcing some to pray in adjoining Madrassa classrooms.

The Madrassa classes are currently about 30 in size, and it is hoped by creating more classrooms in the new building, smaller classes can be created.

"We are doing it for all the community, and the people who were having to pray in corridors," added Mr Wadee.

He said the development would cost between £1million and £1.5million and could be built within two years.

"We have already got £300,000 but the community is not rich, we will be trying our best to find funding locally," he added.

The building was approved by planners by 8 votes to 7.

Officers told the commitee to reject plans because of loss of protected trees on the site, the size of the building and adverse effect on traffic.

In total 92 letters of objection were written, one said: "I strongly object to this planning application on the basis of parking and residential amenities and day light and general safety."

Coun Salim Mulla, whose Queen's Park ward takes in the site, said: "I think it's going to be a fantastic resource for the whole community of the area."

Coun Mulla, who is also secretary of Lancashire Council of Mosques, added: "It will not just be a mosque, but a hub for the community, a community and social centre and information centre."