Muslims are battling to save a mosque which could face closure after planning permission was rejected.

Worshippers helped to raise £400,000 to build the Quba Centre in Golden Crescent, Hayes.

It opened in a converted warehouse last October, but the change of use had not been cleared with Hillingdon Council and it has raised objections.

Abdi Ismail, treasurer of Quba Somali Society which runs the mosque and community centre said: "We've been looking for a place for the Somali centre for the last 10 years, so this is a very crucial development for us, and the £400,000 raised by people shows just how important this is to them.

"The council say there is not enough parking, but the centre is mainly used on Fridays for prayer and most of the visitors are coming by public transport or walking here."

An alternative, the Islamic Educational and Cultural Society in Pump Lane, is oversubscribed, according to its founder, Amir Ahmed.

He said: "The Somali community didn't intentionally go against planning procedures, it was more that they didn't know about it and I don't think they should now be penalised.

"The centre in Pump Lane is full which is why there is a real need for this facility.

"The council needs to realise that as the population is growing there is a greater need for this kind of community facility and it is helping to bring youths off the street."

Another venue, the Uxbridge Muslim Community Centre in Cowley Mill Road, Cowley, has been refused permission for an extension because the original building was granted planning permission on the grounds that it would be used by a maximum of 35 people. Traffic congestion in the area on a Friday is very bad.

Andrew Malin, the council's deputy director of planning and community services, said: "Where there is a change of use of a building or the construction of an extension, the owner of the property is required to apply for planning permission so that things such as parking facilities and noise can be taken into consideration.

"If the owner continues to use the premises without suitable permission the council is legally obliged to take enforcement action against them."