Building work to upgrade Maidstone Mosque has temporarily stopped as a new planning application tweaking already approved plans has been submitted.

Construction to the building on Mote Road began two years ago after initial designs were given the go ahead.

Before three shops were planned for the front of the structure but the new application wants to remove them while adding a mortuary.

Imam, Dr. Muhammad Shabbir Usmani, explains: "From outside nothing has changed, it's only minor changes internally but we still needed to submit a new application.

"We have shortened the prayer hall to add in a mortuary and we want to remove the shops because we have no need for them. If there is a little space left there, that will be a meeting room.

"The new application will only see structural changes to the front and we haven't done any work on that yet so it won't impact what has already been done."

Foundations were laid at the mosque, where Muslims in the town have been going to worship since the 90s, in June last year.

There was hope it would reopen in March but the new application means people will have to wait a little bit longer.

Dr Usmani added this could push things back another eight months but feels it will be 'worth the wait'.

The old building was demolished in November 2018 with a three-storey site set to take its place.

Services were moved to Heather House in Park Wood where they hope to resume soon.

Once complete, the new mosque will house classrooms, a library, offices, kitchen, and one flat.

There has been opposition from Britain First and other anti-Islamic groups who protested the proposals, describing the three-storey structure as a "mega mosque".

When planning was first approved in December 2016, Maidstone Borough Council had received 20 objection letters, compared to 150 letters of support.

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