The first mosque in the Outer Hebrides is set to open this summer despite the Presbyterian Free Church praying that it is never built.

A fundraising drive for the mosque, which has already been granted planning permission, has raised £56,000 within days of launch, outstripping its £50,000 target.

But the mosque faces fierce opposition from the local arm of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) which has urged followers to pray that "no mosque will ever appear in Stornoway".

Plans to create a mosque have been led by Aihtsham Rashid, 39, a builder from Leeds, who said he had been contacted by the growing Syrian community on the Isle of Lewis asking for help.

Six further families have recently arrived from Syria, growing the area's small Muslim community.