A British neo-Nazi plotted to kill non-Aryans in a cyanide attack, a court has heard.

Mark Colborne, 36, from Butts Road in Southampton, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with preparing a terrorist act.

Wearing a navy blue jumper and black trousers, he wiped a tear away as he sat with his arms crossed in the glass-fronted dock at the London court.

Flanked by two plain-clothed officers and a uniformed dock officer, Colborne, a college student of Butts Road, Sholing in Southampton, spoke with a West Country accent only to confirm his name, age and address.

He repeatedly glanced over to his mother, who works in an animal sanctuary and sat tearfully in the public gallery during the hearing.

No indication of plea was given.

Counter-terrorism police searched the home Colborne shares with his mother on June 3 and he was arrested the same day but released on bail pending further inquiries.

Police from Hampshire Constabulary and the South East Counter Terrorism Unit searched his home again yesterday and charged him with engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts contrary to section 5(1) of the Terrorism Act 2006.

Hampshire police said his arrest is not part of a wider investigation and there is no threat to the local community.

He was refused bail and remanded in custody by District Judge John Zani and must appear at the Old Bailey on July 18.

District Judge Zani said: ''I'm transferring this case to the Central Criminal Court which is a higher court, and you'll appear there on the 18 July.''

He warned Colborne that he faced a lengthy prison sentence if he is convicted of the offence.