A battle over plans for an £18million mosque in Dudley went to the High Court today for a ruling on a five-year saga which has split the community.

The hearing, which will pave the way or scupper plans for the controversial project, is due to last for two days.

Dudley Council is challenging the decision by a government planning inspector to grant outline permission for a mosque and community centre at Hall Street.

The council’s development control committee had rejected the scheme but the Dudley Muslim Association, won an appeal against the decision.

Supporters and anti-mosque protesters were expected at the hearing at Birmingham’s Civil Justice Centre today.

Dudley Muslim Association chairman Khurshid Ahmed was due to attend, while St James’s Councillor Malcolm Davis, who has spearheaded a campaign against the mosque, was taking around 15 people to court.