Cabinet ministers were given a classified security briefing by the head of MI5 Andrew Parker about new ways spies are hunting terrorists today.

The Director General of the security services briefed Theresa May and her team on 'new ways of using data' being deployed to track threats.

There is also ongoing work to 'manage risks posed by closed subjects of interest' - a direct response to inquiries into the Manchester and Westminster attacks where the perpetrators had been looked at by MI5 in the past before falling off watch lists.

The Prime Minister thanked Mr Parker and his staff for the 'work they do to keep the country safe'.

The new use of data by MI5 is shrouded in secrecy and Mrs May's official spokesman refused to give details - but did confirm it did not require any new laws or powers.

Cabinet ministers were given a classified security briefing by the head of MI5 Andrew Parker (file image) about new ways spies are hunting terrorists today

The Cabinet was also told the threat level from international terrorism remains at 'Severe' - meaning a terrorist attack is considered 'highly likely'.

Ministers were briefed on a 'broad range of security threats', Mrs May's spokesman said.

He added the major threats come fron 'those linked to or inspired by Daesh (Islamic State) including lone actors but Al-Qaeda remains a prominent threat to the UK and its allies'.

Other threats to the UK are thought to come from far-right extremists and the police have foiled plots in the past year.

Russian interference and further attempted assassinations on UK soil are also high up the radar of security services.

Prime Minister Theresa May (pictured last night at a Burns Night reception in Downing Street) thanked Mr Parker and his staff for the 'work they do to keep the country safe'.

Mr Parker warned about digital interference in Britain by Russia in a speech last year.

He said: 'Our adversaries have proven to be early adopters of technology – particularly internet technologies: those extraordinary and exciting advances that increasingly power our economies and our lives.

'Age-old attempts at covert influence and propaganda have been supercharged in online disinformation, which can be churned out at massive scale and little cost.

'The aim is to sow doubt by flat denials of the truth, to dilute truth with falsehood, divert attention to fake stories, and do all they can to divide alliances.

'Bare-faced lying seems to be the default mode, coupled with ridicule of critics.'

He added: 'The Russian state's now well-practised doctrine of blending media manipulation, social media disinformation and distortion with new and old forms of espionage, high levels of cyber attacks, military force and criminal thuggery is what is meant these days by the label ''hybrid threats''.'