Hawzah News Agency (Kent, UK) -  Tunbridge Wells Islamic and Cultural Association in Camden Road in Tunbridge Wells will build a mortuary.

The community at the Tunbridge Wells Mosque have secured planning permission to build a mortuary on site.

Building of the mortuary behind the Tunbridge Wells Islamic and Cultural Association in Camden Road is due to start in about six months.

This will mean instead of members of the Masjid Al-Noor congregation having to travel to the nearest mortuary in Whitechapel in East London, they will soon be able to carry out the washing of bodies at their own place of worship.

Abdul Munim, the association's treasurer, said: "It is an inconvenience. It will be so much easier if we have the mortuary in Tunbridge Wells. We would not have to go through all this hassle.

"Washing the body is compulsory and because of that the mortuary becomes very important for us."

Mortuaries in the area are not open to the public in the same way, do not have the same facilities needed to practice Islam, such as washing areas, and are also not open out of hours.

He said travelling to London and getting back in time for prayers and a burial at the cemetery in Tunbridge Wells which closes at 5pm can prove impossible.  Muslims within a 20 miles radius of the town will be able to use the mortuary for free, said Mr Munim.