A pair of neo-Nazis who posted abusive messages on the internet about Jews have been convicted of inciting racial hatred.

Michael Heaton, 42, and Trevor Hannington, 58, members of the so-called Aryan Strike Force, left comments on its website, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Heaton said of Jews in one of them: "...They will always be scum, destroy 'em with whatever it takes" and "I would encourage any religion or race that wants to destroy the Jews, I hate them with a passion."

Hannington, from Cardiff, wrote: "Kill the Jew, Kill the Jew, Burn down a synagogue today! ... Burn the scum."

After a two-week trial both were cleared of soliciting murder but Heaton was convicted of six counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words likely to stir up racial hatred.

Hannington had earlier admitted two counts of stirring up racial hatred and two of possessing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

Hannington admitted owning the Anarchist's Cookbook, Kitchen Complete and The Terrorist Encyclopaedia, all of which are considered useful tools to someone preparing or committing an act of terrorism.

He pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred with internet posts stating his beliefs that Jews were "parasites feeding on others" and "utterly evil sub-beings".

He also admitted publishing a post on the internet with instructions on how to make a flame thrower out of a water pistol.

The defence argued the men were innocent of soliciting murder because they were nothing more than "fantasists".

But Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, told the jury the men "made it their life's work" to spread racist messages and encourage others to help them achieve their goal of "the eradication of ethnic minorities from Britain".