THE stunning architecture and tiled interior of a landmark East Lancashire mosque were shown off to the public.

People from across Europe have travelled to Jamia Mosque to see the beautiful imported marble calligraphy hand crafted in Pakistan and showstopper chandeliers from China in the £3.8m building since it opened two years ago.

This week Pendle Mayor Cllr Nawaz Ahmed made sure people of all faiths who live a little closer to home had the chance to peek inside the Brierfield mosque at a special ‘meet and greet’ session.

“The event was about community cohesion, the Mayor invited people to come in to show everybody how communities should work together,” said Pendle Cllr Naeem Ashraf, who worships there.

The building, which opened in July 2013, accommodates up to 2,000 worshippers and is one of the biggest mosques in the country, with a separate mezzanine floor where women worship, 38 decorative arches in the Moorish style and a learning resource centre.

“The lower ground floor is for community use and we are trying to encourage people of all faiths to meet there, to reach out and build a stronger community in Brierfield,” said mosque trustee and County Coun Azhar Ali.

“Apart from the architecture, people are usually impressed that the £4million was found mainly from the people of Brierfield over a 10-year period. But people come from across Europe to look at the architecture and take ideas for their own projects,” he said.

In November the mosque is planning a series of open daysbut is always open to visitors who make an appointment.

A Jamia Sultania Mosque first opened 40 years ago in Bridge Street, Brierfield, until local families - with a few donations from further afield in the UK and overseas - donated the £3.8m money for the new building and education centre.