THE wheels have been put in motion to set up the county's first Muslim place of worship.

Hereford Islamic Society has targeted a vacant building next to Tesco Express on Holme Lacy Road in Hereford.

An application has been submitted to Herefordshire Council to grant planning permission for a change of use of a ground floor retail unit to a day centre, with provision for six car park spaces.

No other details are included in the application, with the form stating that no pre-application advice has been sought from the council at this stage.

However, John Phipps, representing the group, told the Hereford Times that the site would simply serve as a "low-key meeting room" where Muslims in the city can congregate.

In 2012, the Hereford Times reported that the group was looking to raise money that would go towards a permanent place of worship that would be dedicated solely to the Muslim faith.

The group regularly meets at the Kindle Centre next to Asda, but this has been deemed to be too small due to larger numbers wanting to use the site.