An Army instructor being held on suspicion of being a member of a banned neo-Nazi group is reported to have been arrested in Brecon.

The 32-year-old is one of four men arrested under anti-terror laws on suspicion of being members of British far-right group, National Action.

The Army has confirmed the men are serving soldiers. They are being held by West Midlands Police.

The force hasn’t said what area of Powys the man is from but it is understood he was arrested in Brecon.

Three other men, one aged 22 and two 24-year-olds - were arrested in Cyprus and Ipswich, Suffolk and are all believed to be members of the Royal Anglian Regiment.

The 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment, known as the Poachers, use Brecon as one of their main training bases.

An Army spokesperson said: "We can confirm that a number of serving members of the Army have been arrested under the Terrorism Act for being associated with a proscribed far right group.

"These arrests are the consequence of a police led operation supported by the Army. This is now the subject of a civilian police investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further."

Counter-terror police were searching an address in Powys in connection with the arrest of the 32-year-old soldier.

Locals in Brecon spoke of their shock at learning of the arrest in connection with an alleged Far Right terror plot.

The town is the British Army’s headquarters in Wales and is home to the Infantry Battle School, Dering Lines, where soldiers from across the UK train.

The nearby Brecon Beacons is also used by the SAS as a training ground where would-be recruits have to tackle gruelling training yomps over the mountains.

Brecon and Radnorshire Conservative MP Chris Davies said: "The news that a member of the British Army has been arrested in Powys has come as a surprise to us all.

"I work closely with the military community here in Brecon and Radnorshire and they are an integral part of our community. Many who have left the military have chosen to make our beautiful constituency their home and I hope this continues."

Retired accountant Jeffrey Jones, 68, said: "This is a big shock. Everyone in the town is very friendly.

"The Army are very respected around here. Everyone knows how important they are."

Janice Davies, 53, said: "We’ve not seen any evidence of any Nazis around town. I didn’t know they still existed."

Brecon has a proud military history with barracks based in the town centre since 1805 - home to troops who fought the Zulus at Rouke’s Drift.

But the barracks - which is home to 85 civilian staff and 90 military - is earmarked for closure in 2027.

National Action became the first British neo-Nazi group to be banned when, in December last year, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said it was promoting violence and acts of terrorism.

Being a member of – or inviting support for – a proscribed organisation is a criminal offence and has a jail sentence of up to 10 years.