Hundreds of Italians have joined a protest after plans were revealed to build a mosque next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Almost 1,800 signatures were collected on a petition meaning a vote will have to take place for the proposal to build the place of worship to be approved.

The petition was set up by Italian journalist and politician Magdi Allam, who called the number of signatures collected 'the Italian revolution'.

Hundreds of Italians have joined a protest after plans were revealed to build a mosque next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa

And the committee set up to fight plans for building the mosque say they will continue to get as many signatures as they can.

Vice chairman Gianluca Gambini told Italian media: 'We will not stop here - because we expect to get to a higher number of signatures, at least two thousand, to avoid problems with the council.

'The collection of signatures will close next Saturday at the city market, where Daniela Santanché will support us.'

Ms Santache is an Italian politician and entrepreneur.

The petition comes less than a week after Italian authorities ordered the expulsion of a Tunisian national suspected of planning an attack at the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Bilel Chiahoui, 26, was arrested last Thursday after posting messages on social media praising those behind the jihadist attacks in Europe and saying he would attack the Tuscan city's famous monument, a huge tourist attraction.

The petition comes less than a week after Italian authorities ordered the expulsion of a Tunisian national suspected of planning an attack at the Leaning Tower of Pisa

His expulsion order was signed by a judge last Friday according to a police report, which said there was 'evidence the Tunisian sympathised with jihadist extremism and ISIS.

The police statement did not provide details on the target of the suspected attack.

There has been mounting concern about the possibility of Italy being hit by 'lone wolf' terror attacks of the kind seen in neighbouring France and Belgium.