A nine-year-old boy who stood up in class to declare his support for Isis is among thousands of children referred to the Government's counter-extremism programme.

The majority were flagged because of concerns over potential Islamist views but the number attracted to the extreme far-right is growing.

Of the total 7,631 people referred to Prevent in the 2015/16 financial year, 65 per cent (4,997) were suspected of Islamist extremism and 10 per cent (759) of right-wing extremism.

The majority were men and boys aged 20 and under, with ages spanning between young children and the over 60s.

Around a third were deemed to need no further action, half were passed on to alternative services and 14 per cent were considered by the counter-radicalsation Channel programme.

It was the first time detailed statistics have been released by the Home Office, which is attempting to combat suspicion and mistrust around its controversial Prevent programme.