Far-right groups, confronted here by anti-fascists, were backed by the government, Kamran Sabir Hussain told a congregation

An imam who encouraged his congregation to join Islamic State told worshippers that martyrdom was better than school or college, a court was told.

Kamran Sabir Hussain, 40, told up to 15 children and about 25 adults that the right-wing English Defence League and Britain First were funded by the government to insult and attack Muslims.

Mr Hussain was recorded by an undercover officer delivering 17 separate sermons at a mosque in Stoke-on-Trent aimed at recruiting for Isis, the Old Bailey was told. He is alleged to have said that martyrdom was the “supreme success”, greater than achievements at school or college.

He is said to have added that those who died fighting for Allah had nothing to fear as they would be in paradise.