A devout Muslim has failed to persuade a High Court judge to rule that his sons should be circumcised.

The man, who was born in Algeria but lives in England, argued that circumcision would be in accordance with his "Muslim practice and religious beliefs" - and in the youngsters' best interests.

But the boys' mother, who grew up in Devon and is separated from their father, disagreed.

And Mrs Justice Roberts has refused to make a circumcision order - after analysing argument at a family court hearing in Exeter, Devon.

She said it was better to defer a decision until the boys - aged six and four - reached a stage where they could make "individual choices".

Detail of the case emerged on Monday in a ruling by Mrs Justice Roberts.

The judge said no one involved could be identified, but she said the man and woman were both in their mid-30s.

She said the man had been living in England for 15 years.

He had argued that it would be "in the children's best interests to allow them to be circumcised" in accordance with his "Muslim practice and religious beliefs", said Mrs Justice Roberts.

His former partner "opposes that course until such time as the children have reached an age where they are competent to give consent to such a procedure", the judge added.

"He is a devout Muslim and ... is committed to the principle of ensuring that, as part of their dual heritage, his two sons grow up as Muslims observing all the tenets and practices of that religion," said Mrs Justice Roberts.

"Just as the father is passionate in his cause and the reasons for circumcision, the mother is resolutely opposed to it at this point in time."

The judge said she had reached a "clear conclusion".

"First and foremost, this is a once and for all, irreversible procedure," she said.

"There is no guarantee that these boys will wish to continue to observe the Muslim faith with the devotion demonstrated by their father, although that may very well be their choice.

"They are still very young and there is no way of anticipating at this stage how the different influences in their respective parental homes will shape and guide their development over the coming years.

"There are risks, albeit small, associated with the surgery, regardless of the expertise with which the operation is performed.

"There must be clear benefits which outweigh these risks which point towards circumcision at this point in time being in their best interests before I can sanction it as an appropriate course at this stage of their young lives."

She added: "Taking all these matters into account, my conclusion is that it would be better for the children that the court make no order at this stage in relation to circumcision than to make the order which the father seeks.

"I am not dismissing his application on the basis that they must develop into adulthood as uncircumcised Muslim males.

"I am simply deferring that decision to the point where each of the boys themselves will make their individual choices once they have the maturity and insight to appreciate the consequences and longer-term effects of the decisions which they reach.

"Part of that consideration will be any increase in the risks of surgery by the time they have reached puberty."