Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg will walk free from prison after prosecutors dropped seven terror charges against him linked to the civil war in Syria.

The 45-year-old appeared before the Old Bailey via video link from high security Belmarsh prison when Mr Justice Wilkie formally acquitted him of all charges.

Begg spoke only to confirm his name and made no reaction as the prosecutor offered no evidence following a review of the case. He is expected to be released from the south east London jail later today.

Begg has been in custody for seven months awaiting a trial which was due to start on Monday.

At an earlier hearing he had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

But at a pre-trial review today lasting just five minutes the prosecution dramatically dropped the case.

Prosecutor Christopher Hehir said: "The prosecution in every criminal case of every type have a duty to keep under review the sufficiency of the evidence.

"When Mr Begg was charged with a number of offences earlier this year the Crown Prosecution Service were satisfied there was sufficient evidence to afford prosecution.

"In the months that have followed the prosecution have kept under review the sufficiency of the evidence in this case.

"The prosecution have recently become aware of relevant material and in light of which, after careful and anxious consideration, have reached the conclusion that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction in this case. The prosecution therefore offer no evidence."

The judge responded: "On the indication of the Crown offering no evidence verdicts of not guilty should be entered."

Begg was charged with seven counts. The first related to attending a terrorism training camp in Syria between October 9, 2012 and April 9, 2013.

The next five charges were for the possession of "an article" for a purpose connected to terrorism between December 31, 2012 and February 26, 2014.

They were listed as being electronic documents with the titles Camp 1, Camp 2, Tactical Training Schedule, Camp Rules, and Fitness Training Schedule (training exercises).

Finally, Begg, of Boden Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, was charged with funding terrorism by making available a Honda generator between July 14 and July 26, 2013.