Around 500 guests will gather at Nasir Mosque today for the official opening of the revamped building.

The former working men’s club, at the bottom of Richmond Road, Gillingham, has been transformed into a purpose-built place of worship.

The building, originally known as Nasir Hall, was home to the Lower Gillingham Liberal and Radical Club until the early 1970s. It has been used by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association since 1975, but until now had not resembled a mosque from the outside.

It now has a minaret and a golden dome on the roof. The building work has been paid for with donations from the Muslim community.

The finishing touches were being done on the mosque this week, ready for the grand opening.

Around 500 guests are expected, including Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chisti, the Mayor of Medway Cllr Josie Iles and assistant chief constable of Kent Police Rob Price.

The mosque will be inaugurated by His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the supreme head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

There will be a plaque unveiling and a short ceremony, followed by a dinner in the evening.

Sheikh Naseer Ahmad, president of Kent branch of Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, said: “We hope this mosque beams out this message of cohesion and peace to all neighbours, visitors and passers-by.”