A mosque was told to lock its gates when violent disorder erupted in Hartlepool on Wednesday (July 31) night.

Tahir Selby, imam at Hartlepool’s Nasir Mosque said at about 6.30pm police asked them to lock the gates because a march was happening in the town centre.

A night class being run for children was brought to a halt as the gates were shut.

Mr Selby praised police for their actions in protecting them from disorder in the town on Wednesday evening.

It comes as a fundraiser has been launched to raise money for the mosque. A JustGiving page set up by local Andrew Cooper says he wants to gather the cash to “show the appreciation and love we have as a town for the hard work the folks at Nasir Mosque put into our local community”.

The page smashed a £1,000 target, raising more than £8,400 (as of 4pm on August 1).

Mr Selby told Hits Radio: “I found out that the police had blocked the area to avoid any marches going past the mosque.

“The police did a tremendous job. We’re very grateful to them. We have a very good relationship with the police and we’re very pleased that nothing happened here.”

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Mr Selby said “sadly” the march moved elsewhere in the town where there was disorder which shocked him.

He said: “I am very sorry for the police who’s done a tremendous job that they were getting the main bulk of this.”

Mr Selby did not believe the trouble was a reflection of Hartlepool and said the mosque has a good relationship with locals and they have had “very good support from people”.