Grays residents have expressed concerns regarding plans to expand a mosque in the town.

Thurrock Council is considering an application to extend the roofspace in the former Grays Town park pavilion, which became a mosque in 1999 but local residents feel that further extension of the mosque would be inappropriate.

Neil Day (37) of Clarence Road said: "Our objection is primarily based on a question of logistics. Parking is bad enough but on a Friday at prayer time it is ridiculous. In the summer, they have temporary tents and prayer mats out on the park.

Mr Day added: "There is nowhere to expand. I think the whole mosque would be suited in a suburban setting. I think the building has outgrown its use."

He was also concerned regarding the state of the exterior of the building.

He said: "I am surprised they have done nothing to improve it in six years. You wouldn't find a Christian church in that state."

Jan Worsfold, 58, Clarence Road said: "My house backs onto it they've done nothing to the exterior of the building. Most mosques are clean buildings but this is still a graffit'd run down mess."

Labour Councillor for Grays Riverside, Carl Morris said: "I am all for seeing people worship and I would want to foster helpful interdependence amongst groups in the community.

"I think the mosque has outgrown itself and needs to be relocated somewhere else."

The Gazette visited the mosque in the park on Friday. On a sunny spring afternoon, over three hundred devotees had been called to prayer.

As there was limited space inside the mosque, over fifty worshippers prayed outside.

Chairman of Thurrock Jamme Masjeid, Mr Lemon Chowdhury said: "I don't think the parking is a problem. The busiest time for prayer is Friday afternoon. Today we have three hundred members but we park at multi-stories away from the park. There are probably only 15 of our cars parked on Clarence Road and Park Road."

He added: "Our plans are very modest. We just want to extend up into the roof. We wanted extra land on the ground but the council won't grant us permission."

Asked about the state of the building, Mr Chowdhury said: "We would rather the building remain low key. If the council would support our plans then things might be different."

Vice-Chairmen of the Mosque, Mr Siraj Ali said: "Look around you today. We have members from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Cameroon and Oman who all reside in Thurrock.

"Under our religion we embrace many cultures."

Latest figures from the 2001 census show that 1.74% of Thurrock's 144,000 population are Muslim but with recent population changes and an influx from eastern Europe, the likelihood is that the figure is much higher.

A council spokesmen said: "The proposal is for a conversion of the roofspace.The extension would provide a further prayer hall area. The planning application was submitted on March 7. A decision will be made by May 2."