Hawzah News Agency - (Chelmsford - UK) - A Chelmsford leisure centre could become home to a mosque after a £2m by its prospective owners.

It was revealed in November last year that the Chelmsford Muslim Society had placed a bid for the centre with the aim of transforming it into another venue for the city's Muslim community.

In a fundraising petition, the society said the venue would become a "very good mosque" and under current plans say it could accommodate more than 500 worshippers.

The society has now confirmed that the venue's three bars will be closed when the takeover is complete on February 14.

But Ayman Syed, general secretary, has explained that they plan to continue to use the premises as a leisure facility for all members of the community in Chelmsford.