The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader, Jon Burrows, called for the "immediate removal of the offensive display".

"There can be no place for placing any place of worship on a bonfire and setting it alight. It is simply wrong," he said.

"Seeing a symbol of a place of faith placed on top of a bonfire will understandably be viewed by many as an attack on that religion, not a position on illegal immigration.

"Sadly, images of this bonfire will once again travel around the world, damaging Northern Ireland's reputation and playing into the hands of critics of unionist and loyalist culture."

Ron McDowell from the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) party said he did not "condone" the mosque effigy but he also would not call for it to be removed.

"I don't support it, the bonfire makers can come on and defend the model themselves," McDowell told the Nolan Show.

"What I'm defending is the message and their right to articulate their concerns.

"Bonfires have been used like this right across Europe, right across the world. We burn Guy Fawkes in the UK."

He said the mosque effigy was not aimed at all Muslims but was instead a protest against "radical Islam".

McDowell pointed to two signs on the bonfire which said "secure our borders" and "end the threat of radical Islam".

He claimed people were frustrated by government failures to tackle illegal immigration and were using the annual bonfire to make a point.

"These aren't politicians. This is a local community voicing local concerns and they'll do it in a pretty robust manner and pretty rough manner," McDowell said.

"There is a disconnect between the people and politicians and it's going to get wider if we continue to dismiss their concerns."