THE region’s deputy police and crime commissioner has fired his own warning over terrorists – urging Worcestershire to be on red alert.

Barrie Sheldon says the recent example of four young men from Portsmouth who were killed in Syria after becoming Jihadis is a stark warning of the silent spread of radicalism.

UK counter-terror experts say around five British men a week are going to fight for ISIS (Islamic State) in the war-torn state, with fears growing that not enough is being done to tackle it.

Mr Sheldon said: “Intelligence tells us we’re under a severe threat and we can’t take our eyes off the ball.

“There is evidence of people in the West Mercia Police force area with terrorist links, someone was jailed in Shrewsbury a couple of years ago.

“People need to be aware that it is a problem and we could be sat on it, in our communities.

“I would urge people across the West Mercia Police force area to be vigilant to anything they might see or hear that seems a little unusual.

“There are normally people out there who know when they can see something that is not quite right. If that’s the case, tell us.

“It is all about taking a stand and being vigilant, we know there is a threat out there and we’ve got to make sure we are on it.”

Mr Sheldon’s comments come two weeks after Home Secretary Theresa May praised Worcester’s Muslim community in the Commons, saying they were leading the way in denouncing ISIS.

Worcester’s Muslim Welfare Association said the terrorist group “has nothing to do with Islam”, and made a direct plea for former British hostage Alan Henning to be released before he was beheaded four weeks ago.

Six Portsmouth men who have travelled to fight for the terrorist group have been using the nickname the “Britani Brigade Bangladeshi Bad Boys” in reference to their UK links.

Four are now dead, one is in jail having returned to Britain and the other is still believed to be fighting for ISIS.