An MP has urged constituents to sign a petition calling for a Middle Eastern political group to be banned as terrorists.

Hendon MP Matthew Offord has called on those living in the constituency to sign a petition to ban organisation Hezbollah under the Terrorism Act 2000, including its military and political wings.

This comes after Mayor Sadiq Khan wrote a letter to the Home Secretary about the issue, which was fully backed by Barnet Council after they unanimously voted in favour of the motion to support the ban in full council on July 25.

Mr Offord said: "I have repeatedly called for the whole of the Hezbollah organisation to be proscribed under the Terrorism Act as the current situation enables them to use a legal loop-hole to justify unacceptable actions and words.

"Many of my constituents feel that the behaviour of those people who display such flags is not simply free speech but crosses the line of anti-Semitism when they use specific terms to criticise the state of Israel and Jewish people.

"I believe that a petition from my constituents, along with the recent ‘Proscribe Hezbollah in its entirety’ motion passed unanimously by Barnet Council, will allow me to demonstrate to the government that people are very unhappy with the present situation."

The recent calls to ban Hezbollah ignited after the organisation's flags were flown at the Al-Quds Day rally in June, and under current law people are able to display the Hezbollah flag and claim that they are showing solidarity with the political wing of the organisation, despite this symbol being no different to that of their military operations.

Sign the petition on Mr Offord's website, or email matthew.offord.mp@parliament.co.uk to receive a paper copy.