Three children from a Muslim family whose father has been convicted of a terrorism-related offence do not need to be taken into council care, a High Court judge has concluded.

Social services bosses had been concerned that the youngsters, aged between six and 16, were at "risk" because of their parents' "alleged extremist beliefs".

But they told Mr Justice MacDonald that assessments had revealed no evidence of the children being "radicalised or exposed to extremist material".

They said there was no need to continue care proceedings.

The judge has given his approval to care proceedings ending after analysing evidence at a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court.

"Having conscientiously, scrupulously, and fairly analysed the evidence available to it, the local authority has decided that it is proper to seek permission to withdraw these proceedings," said Mr Justice MacDonald in a written ruling on the case.

"Having undertaken the analysis set out in this judgment, I agree with the conclusion that the local authority has reached in this case.

"It is easy to assume that a straight line can, without more, be drawn between a parent who is said to hold extremist views, or a parent who is said to be involved in terror-related activity, and the suffering of significant harm or the risk of significant harm to that parent's child or children.

"However, the evidence in this case demonstrates that the position is more complex than that and one that falls to be considered carefully on a case-by- case basis in light of the evidence in a given set of proceedings."

Mr Justice MacDonald said the family involved could not be identified.

The judge said the children's father had been jailed after being convicted of "inviting another to provide money or property intending it to be used for the purpose of terrorism".

He said the man was also the subject of a Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measure (TPIM).

By Brian Farmer