HAMPSHIRE County Council's leader has reached out to the county's Muslim community in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack.

Councillor Roy Perry has written to Imam Mohammed Achbib, of the Albirr Foundation Mosque in Sarum Hill, after a gunman killed 50 people after opening fire at two mosques in the New Zealand city.

In the letter, posted on social media by the Hampshire Islamic Outreach Society, Cllr Perry wrote: "On behalf of Hampshire County Council, I write to express our sincere condolences and sympathy to all Muslims and in particular to the Muslim community in Hampshire, following the awful atrocity perpetrated in the Al Noor and Linwood Mosques, in Christchurch, New Zealand, last week.

"We join the Prime Minister of New Zealand in condemning the action and people who hold such views against Muslims. These actions are vile and denounced by all good people whatever faith in Hampshire, we work hard to promote good links between people of faith - and your pain is felt by all."

Cllr Perry had also sent the letter to the Southampton Medina Mosque Trust.