A religious leader has told how he feels ‘lucky’ to live in a culturally diverse city as an anti-Islamic group prepares for their first UK protest.

Imam Mohamed Toulba, of The Brighton Al-Quds Mosque and Muslim Community Centre, on Dyke Road, spoke of the safety and peace he feels in Brighton and Hove.

Imam Mohamed spoke after anti-Islam group Pegida has also announced they will march in Newcastle on February 28.

The far right group the English Defence League (EDL) announced a march in Brighton in April.

He said: “We don’t have any problems, we have good neighbours and the environment is good; Brighton is a multicultural city where you very rarely find racism.

“There are many people from different backgrounds, different ethnicity, different religions.

“We are lucky, because Brighton is a safe town for foreigners.”

Pegida drew a 25,000-strong crowd when they marched in Dresden, Germany.

Imam Mohamed said: “We found a poster that indicated hatred of many religions including Islam, Christianity and Jews; in another incident, someone threw a stone at a wall and broke a glass, but I don't think this was to do with religion.

“You won’t find any place perfect 100%, no man is perfect 100%, no family perfect 100%, or community or even country.”

The mosque has been used by members of the Deghayes family, now living in Southwick. Jaffar Deghayes, 17 and his brother Abdullah, 18 were both killed fighting in Syria and their brother Amer is still there trying to overthrow the government.

Imam Mohamed said: “We teach how to be peaceful, and also teach children the Quran; we also do marriage sermons, funerals and different activities like this.’

He added that the mosque does not currently host any clubs or societies that run parallel with the daily teachings and prayers, but it is something they are considering.

He said: “We hope to have something like that [clubs], which encourages the youths to come but we have many other responsibilities we have to do first.

“We have some residents living here in rented accommodation to help run the place, we find a couple of thousand, three thousand, to pay for council tax, maintenance, cleaning wages; we have no other income at all.

“Any church or synagogue or temple or mosque needs to bring in income, because donations are not enough, donations are £100-200 a week, which is not covering all expenses.”

“We are running fine, as long the income is enough for the expenses.

“I wish the government would give some help to spiritual worship; it would be good for the community and good for everyone.

“They don't fund religious places, not churches or synagogues or anywhere.”