Stark warning that humanitarian convoys will be subject to heightened regulation

Aid convoys run by charities to Syria and other unstable countries are prone to be abused by terrorists, the Charity Commission has warned.

The regulator said that convoys could be "abused" by terror sympathisers who use them to supply money and other resources to extremist groups.

This method is not an effective means of supplying aid said the commission and it would apply rigorous additional regulation on charities running humanitarian convoys.

The warning comes after two men were convicted of funding terrorism using charity convoys to Syria to supply thousands of pounds to jihadi organisations last December.

In a report, the commission stated: "There is a risk that charitable aid convoys to Syria may be abused for non-charitable purposes, including facilitating travel for fighters or providing support for those involved in terrorism.

"This is of serious regulatory concern to the Commission and impacts on public trust and confidence in those charities and the charitable sector more generally."