AN ISLAMIC relief charity wants to open its prayer facilities to the general public.

The Ummah Welfare Trust has applied to Bolton Council to allow the exhibition hall at its St Helens Road base to be used as a prayer hall for the surrounding Muslim community.

The charity, which provides and distributes humanitarian aid to countries across the world, says that any additional noise and traffic from the site is likely to be limited.

In a statement sent to the council’s planning office, architects Aamir Design said: “The primary use of the premises is for the charities operations and this remains so, the prayer facility is an ancillary use within the building when the Exhibition hall is not used. This is not specifically for prayer and would therefore be no different to a chapel for instance within a hospital complex.

“It caters for the spiritual needs of staff and volunteers and allows them to be joined by local residents.”