AN angry Muslim leader has blasted "nonsense" claims work on a multi-million pound mosque in Dudley could begin within months.

Dudley Muslim Association chairman Khurshid Ahmed said the £18m project was back on track but reports building work could start in the summer were wide of the mark.

He said: "It's unfortunate that some media should indulge in scaremongering. It's all nonsense - no application has gone to the council yet.

"We are in the final stages of preparing the application.

"The planning process will mean it is some time before actual work is started - definitely not within the next few months."

The revised design will see the much-criticised 100ft minaret reduced to 65ft and the addition of a new underground car park to allay fears over parking congestion.

But Mr Ahmed claims work will not start at the Hall Street site this year as suggested.

He said: "We do want it to be sorted out fairly quickly - we've already had three years at it.

"The site is quite an eyesore at the moment. It needs to be re-developed as early as possible, we are very eager and keen to do it.

"The intention of the mosque is to build bridges and build a cohesive environment in Dudley."

Work could cost more than the £18m original estimated, according to project leaders.

Mr Ahmed said the mosque would not receive any public funding but project chiefs hope cash would be released for the adjoining community, which will include an indoor sports hall, IT training centre and daycare facilities for Dudley pensioners.

Residents have been invited to the Dudley Muslim Association's High Street headquarters to ask any questions about the project.

The original project met with more than 2,000 objections from residents and was shelved just before the 2005 General Election amid fears it would cause racial tension.

A Dudley Council spokesman confirmed a planning application has not yet been submitted.