A row has broken out over leadership at Redhill Islamic Centre, weeks after it held a unity gathering to demonstrate solidarity following the London bombings.

Some members of the mosque, in Earlswood Road, claim they, and their community, haven't been consulted about the newly formed Muslim Council of Reigate and Banstead. This was set up by Qamar Bhatti to work with young Muslims and local agencies.

They believe Mr Bhatti has misled agencies and abused his position, which, they say, was originally to help oversee the mosque's forthcoming annual elections, following trouble in previous years.

Mohammad Khalid, leader at the centre, says Mr Bhatti will be dismissed "immediately".

In a letter seen by the Life, Mr Khalid questions the validity of the Muslim Council of Reigate and Banstead and also critisises statements given by Mr Bhatti.

A copy of a resignation letter has also been received by the Life from Mohammed Saghir, who was appointed with Mr Bhatti to oversee elections. He too questions how the Muslim Council came to be.

But Mr Bhatti has rubbished the claims and said Mr Khalid must be "aggrieved" because he has himself recently been informed he is no longer part of the organisation, something Mr Khalid says is "complete nonsense".

Mr Bhatti said: "Unfortunately this letter by this individual is an attempt to take us back to the previous era where there was conflict with our partners and distance from our young people. We will not be dragged back there and we will no longer be held back by personality politics."