Fire wrecks mosque plan church

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A Lincoln church which was going to be turned into a mosque has been severely damaged by a fire.

Crews from across the county tackled the blaze at St Matthew's, on Boultham Park Road, in the early hours.

The timber and corrugated iron building, which dates from 1912, has been severely damaged and nearby houses had to be evacuated.

Police and fire officers are looking into the cause. Permission to convert the church was given last month.

The Grade II listed structure had been put on the at-risk register after falling attendances left it neglected.

The Islamic Association of Lincoln had already bought the church and said it would make the building safe.

Some residents objected to the plans because they said local roads could become congested.