MUSLIM leaders are facing legal action after using a flat as a makeshift mosque.

The property, in Newcastle, has been used to stage prayer meetings three times a day for more than a year.

Residents complain that, on some days, more than 300 people have been turning up for prayers.

Fed up neighbours have inundated Newcastle City Council with complaints about high volumes of traffic and unacceptable noise levels.

Now councillors have taken enforcement action to stop the flat being used illegally as a place of worship and have served papers demanding prayers are stopped by May 31.

A council spokeswoman said: "The complaints have been made for some considerable time and we feel we are not able to allow this practice to continue any longer."

Leaders of the Muslim community have previously denied the meetings cause any disturbance and said they would move out as soon as a £500,000 mosque is built nearby.

According to the Land Registry, the flat is owned by Mohammed Arshed, of Ilford, Essex.

Worshipper Shahid Qazi said: "On normal days we get 15 or 16 people coming along but about 300 people turn up on Fridays. They don't realise we don't use the house on that day."