Six convicted terrorists have been ordered to pay £33,000 to Muslim Aid and a local school, after posing as charity collectors to fund a terrorism plot.

A judge has ordered the six Birmingham men, who were jailed last year for their part in a suicide bomb plot, to pay funds to the UK based international relief and development agency, whose reputation was damaged as part of the scam.

A spokesperson for Muslim Aid said: “We welcome the confiscation order and the decision by the judge to pay a majority of the proceeds to Muslim Aid.

“The funds received will be used toward providing help to the homeless and the hungry in Britain."

The six men posed over 23 days as street collectors in high-visibility vests with buckets and collection tins, claiming to be raising money for Muslim Aid.

The offenders’ assets totalled just over £33,000, including cash, money in bank accounts and a car.

Last week at Woolwich Crown Court, Judge Justice Henriques ordered the six men to repay the majority of £33,000 to Muslim Aid, with the remainder going to a Birmingham-based religious school.

Detective Superintendent Shaun Edwards, head of investigations for the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, said: "The amount stolen represents donations made by thousands of generous members of the public, given to support the needy. We were appalled that anyone could pose as an official collector and then steal the money to fund crime.”

The terrorists have just three months to pay back the money, which has been ordered under the Proceeds of Crime Act, or face further time in jail.

The men were convicted last April for a total of 51 years for crimes including plotting a bombing campaign, attending terrorist training camps and fundraising for terrorism.

They planned to detonate up to eight rucksacks full of explosives in an attack which had the potential to cause more casualties than the London bombings of 2005.

They were caught when police bugged cars and a bomb-making factory.

The charity plans to issue a full statement on Judge Justice Henriques’ order later on today.