Imam, Tahir Selby, who has just arrived at Hartlepool's Nasir Mosque, accepts that many people relate Islam with terrorism and suicide bombers and is hoping to portray the true meaning of his faith.

The father-of-five, who is an Ahmadiyya Muslim Community missionary for a region stretching from the Scottish border to West Yorkshire, has just arrived in Hartlepool and is desperate to dispel the myths.

Speaking to the Mail at the purpose-built Brougham Terrace mosque, he candidly admitted that his religion is much-maligned and pilloried because of some factions that use it as a front for terrorism and bombing atrocities.

The London-born 50-year-old, who became an Ahmadi Muslim in 1983 after studying Islam for almost four years, told the Mail: "Many muslims are not portraying the true Islam and it's very hard for the moderate voice to be heard.

"The whole purpose of religion is to find peace and love another.

"Islam means peace and people need to get a better understanding of Islam because what is generally portayed in the media is the wrong image.

"It is a universal religion open to everyone.

"What we try and tell the community is that people have to practice what they preach, but many muslims are not portraying the true Islam.

"You are not allowed to commit suicide and you are not allowed to create terror, Islam is a very peaceful, loving religion."

Mr Selby, who attended the 1983 Jalsa Salana convention in Pakistan, studied in a Missionary Training College in Rabwah, Pakistan, between 1984 and 1988 and completed the Mubashir Course in English Medium.

He returned to England in 1988 and had an arranged marriage to another English convert in 1988 and now has five children, including three adult sons and two daughters who are now due to start attending schools in Hartlepool.

The mosque is used as a regional centre with people travelling from neighbouring areas for prayers, held five times a day.

Mr Selby added: "Anyone is welcome to come to the mosque to learn more about Islam.

"People of different faiths should all be at peace with one another. There is no reason why we should hate each other."

Mr Selby is also the compiler and administrator of the free Islamic Correspondence Course, available at www.free-islamic-course.org.