Hawzah News Agency - ( Lincolnshire - UK) - It could now take up to four years for what was originally planned as a mosque to be built after the derelict site on Roman Bank was gutted by fire in what is being investigated by police as a ‘hate crime’.

The fire on Roman Bank in September came as a huge blow to Muslim families behind the project, who had raised more than £110,000 to buy the site.

Temporary Coast Insp David Webb confirmed at a meeting hosted by the local Muslim community at St Matthew’s Church in Skegness last Wednesday that investigations into the fire were ongoing.

He said: “We know there is history at the site from homeless people living there, and youths were linked to a previous fire, but we cannot overlook the fact the recent fire took place just days after the announcement a mosque was going to be built in Skegness.”

As well as representatives from the police at the meeting, there were members of the public who live close to the site, local councillors, and representatives of the Muslim church nationwide.