Thousands of Muslims from Bradford have arrived in Saudi Arabia for the major pilgrimage of hajj.

And this year those travelling to the holy city of Mecca have been given a double boost.

The UK has for the first time agreed to set up a consulate in Mecca for the period of the hajj - the pilgrimage all Muslims must make once in a lifetime.

And Manchester Airport, which is the most direct point of departure for Muslims in the north of England, has expanded its programme of special hajj flights.

More than 5,000 pilgrims will be taken from the airport to Mecca and Madina as part of the scheme.

Saudi Arabian Airlines, EgyptAir, Royal Jordanian Airlines and Sudan Airways are operating 17 flights from Manchester to Jeddah and Medina Airports - four more than last year.

The programme is the brainchild of the airport's business development manager Talat Mahmud, himself a Muslim who took part in the hajj in 1992.

"It was in 1994 that we first operated these special flights. Before then Muslims in the north of England had to travel to somewhere like Heathrow," he said.

"It is difficult to talk about precise numbers but a very good proportion of our passengers are from Yorkshire, especially the Bradford area."

In past years, more than 3,000 pilgrims have travelled from Bradford to Saudi Arabia for the hajj. A similar number are expected to travel this year, with 17,000 British Muslims likely to be taking part in all. All Muslims are obliged to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it.

The move to establish a UK consulate in Mecca during the hajj has been warmly welcomed by Euro MP David Bowe, who represents Yorkshire and the Humber, including Bradford.

He now wants the rest of Europe to follow the example of the UK by providing more help for those travelling to the holy city of Mecca

Mr Bowe is in favour of a Europe-wide consulate and mission service being established during the period of the hajj, which is due to begin in the middle of March.

And he plans to raise the matter through the Council of Ministers.

"This is an occasion where the UK can rightly be said to have given the lead by announcing that it will set up a consulate in Mecca for the period of the hajj," he said. "There will be many thousands of Muslims from every European member state making the pilgrimage and I believe it is the responsibility of the European Commission and the Council of Ministers to make sure they all receive proper support.

"When I first raised this with the commission it was suggested that the issue of consular provision was a matter for individual countries, but I intend to pursue the issue through the Council of Ministers.

"I believe that this is an instance where Europe should be seen to be playing its part in co-ordinating the assistance which will clearly be needed with so many people taking part in the pilgrimage."

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