Four men from Luton have been charged under the Terrorism Act with encouraging support for the so-called Islamic State group, the Metropolitan Police has said.

Mohammed Istiak Alamgir, 36, Ziaur Rahman, 38, Yousaf Bashir, 35 and Rajib Khan, 37, were arrested on 2 December.

Seven properties and a number of vehicles in Luton were also searched.

All four have been remanded in custody and are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 9 December.

Mr Alamgir is charged with four counts of addressing a meeting, the purpose of which was to encourage support for IS, contrary to s12(3) of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Mr Bashir has been charged with one count of the same offence.

Mr Rahman, meanwhile, is charged with three counts of arranging, managing or assisting in arranging or managing a meeting which he knew was to support IS, contrary to s12(2) of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Mr Khan faces one count of arranging, managing or assisting in arranging or managing a meeting to encourage support for IS, and another count of addressing a meeting with the intention of encouraging support for IS.

All of the charges relate to alleged offences in June or July this year.