YORK’S new two storey mosque is nearing the end of its second phase of development and will enter the final stages in the coming weeks.

Work began in 2015 and has been funded by generous donations from across the globe after members of the mosque appeared on Sky TV to appeal for £1.4 million.

Plans to build the multi-million Bull Lane mosque were given the go-ahead in August 2012 by City of York Council.

But with no grants or money available to put toward the cost, it was left up to the congregation members to raise the cash themselves.

The structure is now in place, however, and is used every Friday for the centre’s largest prayer gathering of the week, but parts of it still resemble a building site as workers install gas, electricity and water supplies.

The final stage will see it decorated before it is opened to hundreds of Muslims and the wider community.

Adam Alaby, secretary on the mosque’s committee, said: “This has been ongoing since 1982 when the idea was first discussed, but it was only in the last five years that we were given planning permission because it took a while for the council to agree to the designs.

“It’s not just for Muslims, it is for anybody from all walks of life who comes here and it will benefit the whole community.

“We do a lot of charity work for the Foodbank and fundraise on a weekly basis.

“We were one of the first groups to help during the floods, so the idea of this Mosque is to create a community centre for all.

“We want to encourage people to become part of the community.”

This message was reinforced this week when the mosque’s leaders enlisted the help of Barclays Bank and North Yorkshire Police to speak to residents about staying safe online.

The mosque was used to host a presentation on the dangers of online banking and afterwards, people were given the chance to look around the mosque to see the extensive work which has already taken place.