PEOPLE from across Bolton visited the town’s mosques yesterday as they opened their doors for Visit My Mosque Day.

The event is part of a national initiative launched after a national survey found that many people had not seen inside the place of worship of a different faith.

Over the day eight Bolton mosques invited visitors, and The Bolton News visited the Zakariyya Jaame Masjid in Peace Street to find out more.

Shaddiq Vahora, operational manager at Zakariyya Jaame Masjid, said: “We see the day as an opportunity to show people of other faiths what happens in a mosque, and educate themselves on the life of a Muslim and what we do here.

“It is also a family day out and an opportunity to socialise and mix with people of other faiths and break down barriers.”

Mr Vahora said the scheme had grown every year and it had been welcomed by the community.

He added: “People have reacted very very positively.”

The theme of this year’s day is ‘Open Doors, Open Mosques, Open Communities’, and Mr Vahora and the mosque’s Imam, Usama Mufti also wanted to project the day as an opportunity to show that the mosque is a community hub for anyone who needs help and support.

Over the day visitors could take a tour around the building, as well as pick up free books and literature and sample refreshments.

One visitor Belinda John, aged 51, from Egerton, said: “The mosque is a very interesting place and the people have been very welcoming.

“I had never had the opportunity to come before so I welcomed it. I would encourage people to come.”

Opened on its current site in 2003, the Zakariyya Jaame Masjid was first established in 1966.

Its first members met at each other’s homes for worship, and booked out a room at the town hall for prayers and religious events.

The mosque is now the biggest in Bolton, receiving over 2,500 every Friday for prayers, and its £3.5 million building was financed only by donations.