A grocer's plans to sell alcohol near a mosque has caused anger in Barton and Tredworth.

Residents have collected a 150-name petition against Mohammed Moynul Islam's application for a license to sell drink from Bangla Bazaar in Ryecroft Street.

People living in the area are urging councillors to reject the plans. In a group e-mail to licensing officers at the council they say: "Whilst Bangla Bazaar is a seemingly honourable shop retailer and employer, it cannot manage the problems that will emanate from the sale of alcohol."

Representatives of Gloucester Muslim Welfare Association also suggested that the shop's proximity to the mosque would cause problems for the Muslim community.

In a letter it said: "Members of the Muslim community have been targeted in the past with alcohol being hurled at them whilst on the way to the mosque. Granting an alcohol license to a shop a few doors down from the mosque, which is established almost 50 years, will not only cause us to be in an invidious position but will reflect adversely on the number of visitors coming to the mosque from out of the area, who see it as a place that sets social and moral standards."

Mr Islam, who has been running the store for six years, said he was applying for the license so he could offer a better service.

He said: "We do a lot of different types of food, and I want to be able to cater for everyone. I want to start selling papers as well, to make it an all-round convenience store.

"With the supermarkets selling the same things as me, I need to look at other ways to keep the business going."

Mr Islam said he was fully aware of the unrest his application had caused.

He said: "If it is an issue of crime and disorder I can understand, but they don't know if it will have an effect. You can't judge a book by its cover."

Residents said that many other local outlets, including the Co-op and Asda, already sell alcohol.

Liberal Democrat city councillor Usman Bhaimia said: "I support business growth in this area, but not off licences."

A special meeting of the city council's licensing sub-committee will discuss the application at the North Warehouse tonight at 6.30pm.