YORK Mosque will be formally opened this weekend – and people from across the city are being invited to come along and have a look round.

Mosque treasurer Faizal Mohamudbuccus said the purpose-built building in Bull Lane had cost more than £1million, funded by donations and events including sponsored walks, food festivals and jumble sales.

“We have been building it since 2015 but planning it for the last ten years,” he said.

He said the mosque had started in 1983, when it involved a few Muslim people and the community had grown over the years.

The new building would not only serve for prayers but as a community place where many events would take place, including art exhibitions, children’s classes, interfaith meetings, school visits, scouts and cubs visits and North Yorkshire police cadets training, he said.

“We are also involved with many community groups such as Refugee Action York and kitchen homeless,” he said. “We also collect food and take it to the food bank, hosted a fraud awareness talk with Barclays Bank and North Yorkshire Police and helped the army when the floods took place in York.

“In the years to come, our aim is to carry out more community activities and the mosque is open to any who wish to visit.”

He said the grand opening at 1.30pm on Saturday would be the biggest event to date and a celebration of years of hard work and dedication by the Muslim community.

There will be tours and an exhibition followed by refreshments, with guests including the Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Keith Orrell, and York Central MP Rachael Maskell. “We look forward to welcoming everyone on this special day to join us in our celebrations.”