Police searching a car linked to an alleged Muslim terror gang found a meat cleaver with the word 'kaffir' - meaning unbeliever - carved on the handle, a court heard today.

They also recovered guns and bullets in a bag found in the car, the court was told.

Four men appeared in court today charged with plotting to commit a terrorist act in Britain.

Naweed Ali, 28, Khobaib Hussain, 24, both of Sparkhill, Birmingham, Mohibur Rahman, 31, and Tahir Aziz, 37, both of Stoke on Trent were charged on Thursday.

In the dock: Naweed Ali, 28, Khobaib Hussain, 24, Mohibur Rahman, 31, and Tahir Aziz, 37, (left to right) appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today each charged with one count of intending to commit acts of terrorism

They appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today each charged with one count of intending to commit acts of terrorism and preparing terrorist acts between May 26 and August 27 this year.

Wearing prison issue sweatshirts they each spoke to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses. They did not enter any plea.

Louise Gray prosecuting said: 'A car was searched on August 26 and inside the Seat Leon a JD Sports bag was found in which there was a pair of black latex gloves, a pipe with a bolt attached either side to shotgun cartridges and a small amount of a black powder in the pipe.

'A Beretta firearm and an air gun designed to look and feel like a real gun was also found in the car along with 9mm ammunition, a shotgun, a meat cleaver with the word Kaffir carved into it.

'There are 114 WhatsApp messages. The conversation covers a range of topics including Islam, Jihad and violent extremism.

'There are other exchanges of posts where videos and links were posted relating to Daesh, the events in Syria and articles about MI5 blackmailing British Muslims.'

The four were arrested on August 26 along with a fifth man, aged 18, also arrested on the same date, who has been released without charge.