OXFORD'S Central Mosque has attacked suggestions by a senior Church of England bishop that Islamic extremism is creating "no-go" areas for non-Muslims.

The Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, suggested no-go areas had evolved where people of different faiths or race would find it hard to work.

Dr Nazir-Ali said in yesterday's Sunday Telegraph how attempts had been made to impose an "Islamic character" on communities and pointed to the example of mosques piping out the call to prayer (Adhan) to surrounding streets.

In November, it emerged that leaders at Oxford's Central Mosque, in Manzil Way, were considering asking for permission for such a move.

But Sardar Rana, spokesman for the mosque, said it would not create a no-go area and suggested the bishop should be more "broad-minded".

Dr Nazir-Ali believed non-Muslims faced a hostile reception in places dominated by the ideology of Islamic radicals.

He said: "Attempts have been made to impose an Islamic' character on certain areas, for example, by insisting on artificial amplification for Adhan.

"Such amplification was, of course, unknown throughout most of history and its use raises all sorts of questions about noise levels and whether non-Muslims wish to be told the creed of a particular faith five times a day on the loudspeaker."

The bishop, who was flying to Asia yesterday and unable to comment, also said the integration agenda pursued by the Government "lacks...a moral and spiritual vision".

He said: "There has been a worldwide resurgence of the ideology of Islamic extremism.

"One of the results of this has been to further alienate the young from the nation in which they were growing up and also to turn already separate communities into no-go areas where adherence to this ideology has become a mark of acceptability."

But Mr Rana said: "I cannot understand how a personality like him, as a religious leader, can say no-go area'.

"People will not pay any attention to what the bishop is saying. Nobody can make any area a no-go area.

"He is wrong. He should be very broad-minded and open-hearted."

Critics of plans to allow the call to prayer to be broadcast in East Oxford have claimed granting permission would turn the area into a Muslim ghetto.

But Mr Rana said: "It will not create a no-go area. We welcome every religion and we respect other people.

"I am 100 per cent sure people will like it when they hear the holy verses on the loudspeaker. We are not saying anything bad."

Dr Taj Hargey, chairman of the Muslim Educational Centre of Oxford, also disagreed with the bishop's comments.

He said: "I think using language like no-go areas' is very inflammatory. The bishop is pouring petrol on the flames with this type of article."

Dr Hargey felt the mosque should withdraw any proposal to broadcast a call to prayer by loudspeaker because of public opposition to the plan.