A Muslim woman from Luton is facing jail after she admitted posting messages on Facebook encouraging terrorism in Syria.

Runa Khan, 34, posted a picture of a suicide vest on the social networking site and details of a route into the war-torn country, Kingston Crown Court in Surrey heard.

Wearing a niqab in the dock so only her eyes were visible, she pleaded guilty to four charges of disseminating terrorist publications between July and September 2013.

Addressing the defendant, Judge Peter Birts QC said: "I'm sure you have been advised they are charges of the utmost gravitas that almost inevitably will be met by a substantial custodial sentence."

The court heard Khan, of Maple Road West, Luton, sent a series of Facebook messages to an undercover police officer describing a route from Turkey into Syria.

She received details of the route from Mohammed Nahin Ahmed who has admitted spending eight months in Syria fighting alongside an al Qaida-linked terrorist group, the hearing was told.

Ahmed and childhood friend Yusuf Zubair Sarwar, both 22, from Birmingham, fled to the country last May after contacting Islamic extremists.

They each pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in preparation of terrorism acts at London's Woolwich Crown Court earlier this month.