An £18 million mosque and community centre for Dudley has been thrown out against the advice of planning experts – but the battle will almost certainly continue with an appeal.

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One man was arrested during scuffles outside the meeting to consider the plan which prompted the biggest protest campaign in memory.

Anti-mosque campaigners cheered after proposals for a £6 million mosque with 65ft minaret and £12 million community centre were rejected by all nine members of the planning committee.

But chairman of Dudley Muslim Association Khurshid Ahmed today said the bid to build the mosque would almost certainly continue.

“I’m fairly certain we will go to appeal because we have no other option. It’s our land, we paid for it and we bought it.

“We have complied with all the conditions and satisfied professional assessors at great cost to get to this stage.” He had earlier told the meeting: “We have gone to some lengths to meet all these objections that the residents made and we have made amendments.

“We have been extremely tolerant and patient.”

Planning officers had recommended the scheme for approval after finding there were “exceptional circumstances” for ignoring guidelines. Speaking on behalf of protesters, Councillor Malcolm Davis told the meeting it was “most concerning” that officers had recommended approval.

Planning committee members from Labour, Conservative and the Liberal Democrats parties insisted the planning policy could not be broken and voted to reject the application.

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By Mark Walsh