Steps are being taken to prevent tension building between rapidly-growing and diverse religious communities in Oxford.

More non-denominational Christian worship is on the increase as shown by the new Oxford Community Churches base, in Osney Mead.

The 4,000-plus Muslims in the city are working to create a fifth mosque in Cowley to accommodate their growing community.

The 150-plus Sikh families in the city have outgrown the East Oxford Community Centre currently used as a makeshift place of worship. The community is now campaigning for a dedicated Gurdwara temple.

Meanwhile, members of other religions, such as Druids and Buddhists, are believed to be on the increase.

Now the director of the International Inter-Faith Centre (IIFC) in Market Street, Sandi Barrat, says followers of all religions must take action to build good relations. She said underlying racial tensions had been betrayed by the disturbances in Oxford's streets following the terror attacks of September 11.

The south east of the city appears to have had a massive growth in religious activity in the past few years as multi-ethnic communities become more established, according to IIFC, creating concern that a perceived religious divide may emerge between north and south Oxford.

To pre-empt trouble, IIFC staff are working to revive the Oxford Round Table of Religion, to bring together religious leaders.

A youth movement is also being set up, and a new Directory of Oxford Religions is to be compiled to log all faith-based communities.