IT WAS supposed to be a relaxing holiday camp where Muslim school boys from western Sydney could play sport, listen to motivational speakers and hang out.

But after Bilal El-Hayek, a youth co-ordinator with the Lebanese Muslim Association, made a tentative booking and sent a $400 deposit for a camp at the Collaroy Centre, he was told the Salvation Army-owned venue could not accept the booking.

The only acceptable guests were those who practised Christianity, a staff member allegedly told him.

''I told her we don't want to preach any religion. This is just a group of young people coming to have fun,'' Mr El-Hayek said. ''I was very disappointed. This is discrimination.''

The Salvation Army yesterday apologised and invited the Lebanese Muslim Association to rebook. The Salvation Army's head of communications, Major Bruce Harmer, said the incident was due to a ''misunderstanding''.

A condition on the centre's booking form states that the Salvation Army can cancel any booking should a group's use of the facilities be ''inconsistent with Salvation Army beliefs or purposes''. This point was open to misinterpretation by staff, Major Harmer said in a statement.

''We are currently addressing this situation,'' he said. ''The Salvation Army welcomes people of all faiths and denominations to enjoy the facilities of the Collaroy Centre.''

The president of the Lebanese Muslim Association, Samier Dandan, accepted the apology and called for the application form to be clarified. ''We are hopeful that such stance is not reflective of their culture or policy but purely a minor setback.''