Anjem Choudary will appear in court today charged with supporting Islamic State (IS).

It follows his arrest last year by officers from the Metropolitan Police's counter terrorism command.

It is alleged that between June 29 last year and March 6 this year Choudary invited support for a proscribed terrorist organisation, namely Isil, also known as Isis or the Islamic State, contrary to section 12 Terrorism Act 2000.

Choudary, 48, of Hampton Road, Ilford in east London, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court at 2pm.

He will appear alongside Mohammed Rahman, 32, of Sidney Street in Whitechapel, east London, who is also accused of inviting support for IS over the same dates.

Both men were arrested on September 25 last year on suspicion of being members of the proscribed organisation.

They have remained on police bail throughout the investigation.

Sue Hemming, head of special crime and counter terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police's counter terrorism command, we have today authorised charges against Anjem Choudary and Mohammed Mizanur Rahman.

"We have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to prosecute Anjem Choudary and Mohammed Rahman for inviting support for Isil, a proscribed terrorist organisation, between 29 June 2014 and 6 March this year. Each man is charged with one offence contrary to section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

"It is alleged that Anjem Choudary and Mohammed Rahman invited support for Isis in individual lectures which were subsequently published online."