a group of nine local Christians were invited to observe a Muslim act of worship on Tuesday.

Among the guests were the Rev Michael Hardy, rector of St Andrew's Shared Parish Church in Keighley, the Rev Gordon Webb, superintendent minister of the Keighley and Worth Valley Methodist Circuit, and Salvation Army Captain Len Evans.

Before the Ramadan service at Keighley's Emily Street mosque the visitors met members of the newly-appointed mosque committee and shared refreshments in the adjoining community centre.

They were introduced to Imam Basharat Shah and Mohammed Ajaib who explained the details of the prayers in which over 1,000 people would be involved.

The party then took their place in the main hall and witnessed the hour-long evening prayer session. Important prayers are recited at midday and in the evenings during Ramadan, which lasts for one Islamic month, and during which Muslims are not allowed to eat, drink or smoke between sunrise and sunset.

The group was welcomed in the mosque by Mehboob Alam and thanks were expressed by Mr Hardy.

"It was a wonderful experience for Christians to share a religious practice with the Muslims of Keighley," says Charlie Bhowmick, a Methodist member of St Andrew's Shared Church.

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