MOSQUES in Bolton will be opening their doors to the community this weekend.

Eight places of worship in the borough are taking part in the national Visit My Mosque.

The open day is in response to a survey which found many people have not seen inside a place of worship of different faiths.

Ibrahim Kala, Chief Officer of Bolton Council of Mosques, said: "A You Gov Poll commissioned by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has found that almost 70 per cent of Britons haven’t seen the inside of another faith’s place of worship, and 90 per cent haven’t been inside a mosque, in recent years.

"Lets change that this weekend."

He added: "Eight mosques across Bolton will be opening their doors this weekend on February 18 .

"The mosques will be welcoming neighbours, local people, children and young people, professionals, communities and people from all backgrounds.

"The event will be an opportunity to learn about how a local mosque functions, ask questions and change perceptions. The aim of the day is also to promote social cohesion and diversity.

"Simply pop in and have cuppa."

Mosques taking part are Zakariyya Jaame Masjid in Peace Street, Ghosia Mosque in Caroline Street, Masjid e Ali in 383 Wigan Road, Masjid e Quba in Deane Church Lane, Makka Mosque in Grecian Crescent, MA Mission in Halliwell Road, Noor Ul Islam in Prospect Street and Tayyabah Mosque in Blackburn Road.

They will be among more than 200 mosques across the country taking part in the Visit My Mosque weekend, which is now in its fourth year.

The theme this year is 'Open Doors, Open Mosques, Open Communities'.

“Despite the multi-religious and multi-cultural society we live in, these poll results show that the majority of Britons have not seen what the place of worship of another faith looks like,” said Harun Khan, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, "many faith communities hold open door events regularly and this Sunday over 200 mosques across the UK will also be opening their doors, to give people of all faiths and none the chance to get to know their neighbours of a different faith."

The mosques will be open from 1pm until 3pm.