A group of Islamists did not break the law when they formed 'sharia police' street patrols, telling people to stop drinking, gambling and listening to music, a German court has ruled.

The ultra-conservative group, formed by German convert Sven Lau, sparked outrage in 2014 when it held patrols in the western city of Wuppertal in 2014.

They wore orange vests bearing the words 'Sharia Police'.

Islamist preacher Sven Lau led the ultra-conservative group, which wore orange vests wearing the words Sharia Police

But prosecutors at the city's district court could not prove that seven accused members had broken the law.

A ban on political uniforms would only be breached if the outfits worn were 'suggestively militant or intimidating' - but court officials ruled they were not threatening, and that one witness thought the men were part of a batchelor party.

The same court had already thrown out the case last year, but was overruled on appeal by a higher court, which agreed with prosecutors that the ban on uniforms could be applied in this case.

The court ruled the vests, like the one shown in this image, did not break laws governing wearing political uniforms

Monday's verdict is not yet final and may still be appealed.

The 'sharia police' members walked the streets of Wuppertal in September 2014, telling nightclub-goers to refrain from drinking alcohol and listening to music, and arcade customers not to play games for money.

Lau, the organiser, is one of Germany's most controversial and best known Islamist preachers.

He is currently on trial in a separate case on charges of backing 'a terrorist group' fighting in Syria.