Millions of pounds of British humanitarian aid sent to Syria may have fallen into the hands of jihadists, it has been claimed.

The money came from financial support sent to the war-stricken country by the Department for International Development (Dfid).

But, the Mail on Sunday reported, the Department has admitted that there was a serious risk from the “large scale diversion of aid, including for the purposes of terrorism”.

In all £510 million has been sent to Syria in aid since 2011. According to the official estimate, less than one per cent may have been diverted. That would, nevertheless, represent £5 million.