Part of a Skipton cemetery could be set aside for traditional Muslim burials.

A plot of land originally reserved for World War II fatalities has been earmarked, and could accommodate around 260 Muslim grave spaces which, in accordance with religion, have to be aligned with Mecca.

The land at Waltonwrays Cemetery is available because only three spaces were ever used.

If the plan goes ahead, a "herringbone" pattern of graves will be created because the plots will not be set out in a grid pattern like Christian sites.

In the past the local Muslim community has had to use cemeteries elsewhere, or send their dead back to their homelands.

But the Muslim Association recently expressed a wish to have loved ones buried locally where people can visit the graves more easily.

Shabir Hussain, secretary of the Skipton Muslim Association, added: "We appreciate the work the Council is doing on our behalf. We need a place to visit our deceased easily.

"We don't want to be segregated within the cemetery, it's just that it's easier practically to have all the Mecca-facing graves in one place, otherwise they would be running at angles from the other ones."

Councillor Dennis Hall has taken up the case on behalf of the association, and urged Craven Council to look into the possibility of opening up the spare land.

And the councillor representing the majority of Muslims in Skipton, Andrew Rankine, says he is delighted that the proposals are under way.

He said: "It's important to the Muslims that they have their deceased buried in a way that is in accordance with their religion."

Before the next meeting of the community services committee, the Council is approaching all local religious leaders to get some feedback on the proposals.

They will be asked for their views on traditional Muslim burials, which will involve Mecca alignment, one interment per grave and interment within 24 hours of death.

Other authorities have provided Craven Council with their own successful examples, like Lancaster Council, which buries people sitting up.

Coun Hall said: "The Muslim community approached me to see if anything could be done to find space to bury their dead. So I got in touch with the Council and they have very kindly set to work on the idea.

"The space at Waltonwrays was found and, so far, everyone I've spoken to seems fine with the idea."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.