A man plotted a cyanide attack from his bedroom because he felt "belittled by society" for being a white, ginger-haired male, a court heard today.

Mark Colborne, 37, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of preparing terrorist acts for months before his arrest on June 3 last year.

The court heard how his half brother alerted police after he uncovered chemicals and papers detailing Colborne's racial hatred stashed amid the clutter of his room at the family home in Southampton.

Prosecutor Alison Darlow QC told the court how the defendant had trawled the internet for explosives and poisons and bought books on the subject entitled Assorted Nasties, Silent Death and The Poor Man's James Bond.

He went on to acquire chemicals over the internet forming the essential ingredients for the deadly poison cyanide as well as stockpiling dust masks, metal filter funnels, plastic syringes and latex gloves, jurors were told.

Ms Darlow said: "Colborne's ideology and aims are visible through a series of handwritten notes and diary entries which were recovered from his bedroom of the home he shared with his mother and brother in Southampton.

"In these notes, he referred to his racial hatred for those who are non-Aryans - who he refers to as 'blacks and Caucasian idiots' and his hatred of the prevailing system and organs of the state."

The court heard he wrote of his wish to carry out a terror attack, stating: "I will put a major dent in England, one that is felt around the world, if for some reason I cannot perform a major operation then I will still opt for low level attacks."

Comparing himself with right wing extremists, he said: "I'm looking for major retribution, a mass terrorist attack which will bring to the attention our pain not just mine but my brothers around the world."

In March last year, Colborne's plan had crystallised into action and he bought various ingredients for cyanide, the court heard.

But on June 3, his half brother Kevin Colborne was preparing to do some decorating at the family home in Butts Road when he came across some receipts for chemicals his brother had bought.

He became concerned to learn that they included chemicals that could be used for fireworks and told his mother Patricia what he had found, the court heard.

Together, they went into Colborne's "extremely cluttered" bedroom and uncovered an assortment of chemicals, the books and other equipment and called the police.

Ms Darlow told the court that the defendant had suffered from depression and agoraphobia and had led a relatively isolated life.

She said: "He clearly had experienced a troubled childhood and perceived himself as marginalised and belittled by society because he was a white, ginger-haired male."

Colborne denies the charge against him and the trial continues.