MUSLIMS face a battle to continue an ancient Holy prayer ritual - because their mosque washroom has fallen foul of planning regulations.

The Cheadle Muslim Association built a communal washroom for the practice of ablution when it moved to its Wilmslow Road mosque, Heald Green, in 2005.

Without this ritual cleansing of hands and feet before worship, Islamic law rules prayers invalid and the existing toilet at the former Methodist church was deemed unsuitable, so the new washroom was built.

But after three years council officials have told the association the washroom - housed in a temporary cabin - needs planning permission.

And if a retrospective planning application is not approved the 300-strong congregation have nowhere for their pre-prayer wash and will be unable to worship.

Saeed Akhtar, from the Cheadle Muslim Association, said: "The ritual washing is part and parcel of the process. Physically it gets rid of any dirt and spiritually it is very symbolic.

"Washing the hands washes away the sins the hands have committed, washing the face washes away the sins the eyes have looked at and washing the feet washes away the sins the person has walked towards.

"We hope permission will be given because it will cause a problem if it isn’t.

"Without ablution there is no prayer. We haven’t been given an indication if it (the planning application) will succeed or not.

"Our congregation haven’t been made aware there is a potential problem but if we were refused we would have to tell them."

The washroom is fitted with a long stainless steel sink at a level that makes it easy to clean feet. It is also fitted with stools and larger than a regular communal bathroom.

Friday is the main Holy day for Muslims so many come straight from work and do not have time to undertake ablution elsewhere.

Stockport Council discovered the washroom - and its lack of planning permission - as the mosque is situated in green belt land, which officers keep a closer eye on.

A Council spokesman, said: "The target date for a decision to be made on the application is February 12.

"The washroom facility came to our attention last year and is a development which requires planning permission.

"Building operations do not become lawful until a time period of four years has elapsed.

"Members of the Cheadle Muslim Association can continue to use the washroom facility prior to a decision on the application being made."