A £1.25million fundraising campaign has been launched to renovate a former Methodist chapel which is being turned into a mosque and multi-faith centre.

Both Sheraz Arshad and Farouk Hussain were named as Men of the Year at our annual Fusion awards for their efforts in gaining planning permission for a mosque in Clitheroe after a 30-year battle.

They now have set their sights on renovating the former chapel in Lowergate and are offering people the chance to fund the transformation of the building.

They have now launched the "Sponsor a Brick Campaign."

In total, 5,000 virtual bricks from the building are available to sponsor at a cost of at least £250 each.

Organisers hope this will raise the £1.25million needed for the Clitheroe Masjid Project.

Mr Arshad, chairman of the Median Islamic Education Centre and director of the project, said that the building needed substantial work to make it accessible to all members of the community.

The ground floor of the three-storey building will be converted into a general meeting place while the middle level will become a place of prayer.

The top floor will be converted into an area for different community groups to use, in particular the multi-faith scout group which Mr Arshad is involved with.

He said: "A lot of demolition work needs doing around the back and renovation work inside.

"We are going to put in facilities to make it inclusive and open to everyone, especially for women as well as men.

"There will be a creche and there are access issues such and lifts and ramps to make it accessible for disabled people.

"We are also hoping the enhance the exterior by cleaning it up.

"Initial estimates for all the work is around £1million to get it all done properly.

"It's quite ambitious but there is a lot of opportunity to do this right.

"I would like work to start in the next six months to a year and get it going as soon as possible."

Anyone who sponsors the project will be issued with a certificate and have their name listed on a grand roll of honour which will take pride of place in the entrance foyer of the building.

The overall project is supported by the Clitheroe Inter Faith Partnership which is made up of different religious groups from the Ribble Valley.