Three men, including two British soldiers, who are accused of being part of banned neo-Nazi group are to appear in court charged with terror offences.

Mikko Vehvilainen, Mark Barrett and Alexander Deakin are accused of being part of the proscribed organisation National Action.

Vehvilainen, based at Sennybridge Camp, Brecon, Powys, is also charged with possessing a document containing information likely to be useful for terrorism and publishing material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, by posting comments on a website intending to stir up racial hatred. The 32-year-old is also charged with possessing pepper spray.

Barrett, 24, who is based at Gaza Crescent in Dhekelia Garrison, Cyprus, faces a single charge of membership of National Action, contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000.

Deakin, from Beacon Road, Great Barr in Birmingham, faces the same charge as well as possession of documents likely to be useful to a person preparing to commit an act of terrorism, and distribution of a terrorist publication.

The 22-year-old is also charged with inciting racial hatred concerning National Action stickers posted at Aston University campus in Birmingham in July last year.

The three men will appear at Westminster magistrates court on Tuesday.

West Midlands police said the arrests last week were “pre-planned and intelligence-led and there was no risk to the public’s safety”.

The force said a man from Northampton and another from Ipswich, both aged 24, were released without charge on Saturday following inquiries.

National Action, described by the Home Office as “virulently racist, antisemitic and homophobic”, became the first extreme rightwing group to be banned under terrorism laws in December 2016.