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Muslims in Suffolk were hoping their mosque in the centre of Ipswich would provide more opportunities for other communities to understand their faith.

The grand re-opening in March 2009 came in the same week that saw muslims in Luton demonstrating against a parade by the Royal Anglian Regiment.

Mohammed Tunu Miah is the chairman of the Ipswich mosque and he's positive about the general feeling muslims in Suffolk have at the moment: "In terms of bad vibes, I think we have less of that than anywhere else in this country and I'm genuinely saying that."

The refurbished mosque

"We really try and work closely with other faith groups, we have great connections with the local churches and schools."

It's taken nearly £300,000 of locally raised money to buy and convert the building next to the community centre on Bond Street.

Mahbub Alam Shamim is one of the committee members who has made the project possible. He's proud of the role the mosque plays with in the community:

"It's not just Bangladeshi, Pakistani or Indian. We get Muslims from Middle Eastern countries, African countries, European countries.

"On a Friday we get up to 700 people for prayers and you can see the different nationalities who come and use our centre here."

Mohammed and Mahbub

The new building has a 'shop-front' on Upper Orwell Street which will be used as a library and a space for people to come in and find out more.

Mohammed Tunu Miah fells that will help in explaining their faith to the wider community and in easing tensions that have arisen following the armed conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Gaza.

"We're hoping people can come in and experience the muslim faith. We've had school visit before and now we've got a purpose built mosque that gives us a better place to do that."

"Most of the time we can't control things on the world stage, but people will be able to see the people who use the mosque, who they are and what they do when they come to the mosque.

Ipswich mosque, 2006

"And that will hopefully help create a better understanding between faiths and between cultures."