A part-time Muslim chaplain has been appointed to look after Islamic students in Bradford.

Sufyan Gent, a convert to Islam, is the first Muslim adviser for students at the university.

An increasing number of students in Bradford are Muslim as the university strives to widen access to local young people from non-traditional backgrounds.

Mr Gent, 54, converted to Islam in 1977 after meeting his Iraqi wife Bahiya. He attends the Dar al Arqam mosque in Neal Street.

He was called Maurice before he adopted the Muslim name Sufyan, which means "cool desert wind".

He will act as a spiritual adviser and counsellor to youngsters and be a "bridgehead" between the university and its Muslim students.

Mrs Gent, 52, who teaches Arabic at Bradford College, will share the chaplaincy role by acting as adviser and counsellor to female students, in line with Islamic etiquette.

They will both give one-to-one counselling from premises in Claremont, shared with the Human Relief Foundation charity.

Dean of Students, Adrian Pearce said: "The university has an excellent reputation for the quality of support we provide to our students. We have a number of religious advisers who work alongside the experts specialising in counselling, finance and general student advice and we feel Sufyan and Bahiya will prove to be valuable new members of the team."

Mr Gent said: "I am looking forward to working with young people as I have an 18-year-old son. We will do the same role as the Anglican chaplain, the only difference is that we are not full time and we are not getting paid - it's purely voluntary."

He believes that young people will have no problem accepting him as an adviser even though he is a convert to Islam.

"Muslims tend to have respect for the older generation," he said. "Also, they will see that I have made a positive choice to come to Islam rather than for any cultural reasons."

He added: "Until now Muslim students have not had anyone to go to on campus apart from the equal opportunities officer, who is a Muslim lady.

"I expect some people will just want a shoulder to cry on, it might not necessarily be a spiritual query but if a particular question is made relating to Islamic law we have contact with qualified people who can help."