There are signs that the terror threat from the extreme right could be growing, one of the UK's counter-terrorism police chiefs has warned.

Senior National Co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing Neil Basu said there have been indications in the past year that the risk is on the rise, and around one in 10 referrals to the Government's anti-extremism programme is now linked to the far right.

In a statement following the conviction of Nazi-obsessed killer Thomas Mair for the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox, the Scotland Yard Deputy Assistant Commissioner said: "UK policing is committed to tackling extremism in all forms and this includes the threat from the extreme right-wing.

"Cases are pursued by our officers with exactly the same level of resource and vigour as other forms of ideology. The vast majority of investigations are led by officers working in the national counter-terrorism network.

"There have been a number of successful prosecutions over recent years and this is testament to the work of police teams up and down the country.

"The overriding threat remains from Daesh-inspired groups but our operations reflect a broader range of dangerous ideologies and we will work tirelessly with our partners to confront them.

"Over the past 12 months there have been indications that the threat from the extreme right-wing could be increasing and we are alive to this.

"Within Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters, there is a national unit that receives intelligence from forces around the country relating to domestic extremist groups. This is assessed daily and the unit works with forces to mitigate the risk."

Around one in 10 referrals to the Government's Prevent programme, which is designed to turn would-be extremists away from terrorism, are linked to the far right.

Mr Basu added: "Currently just under 10% of all Prevent referrals relate to the extreme right-wing and we have put programmes in place to support those at risk of being radicalised.

"We recognise that lives can be destroyed and community cohesion undermined in exactly the same way it can from other forms of extremism."