Hamza has nails cut for court case

Fundamentalist cleric Abu Hamza has had his toenails clipped - after he claimed he could not make a court appearance because they were too long.

The self-styled Sheikh of Finsbury Park mosque had said his toenails were so long he was unable to walk from his cell in Belmarsh Prison to a court appearance broadcast from the adjoining magistrates court.

His excuse provoked accusations he was mocking the justice system. However, he has been visited by a chiropodist ahead of an appearance next Tuesday.

When he failed to appear at the last hearing barrister Peter Hynes, defending, said: "There is a particular physical difficulty with him. He feels unable to walk."

Hamza, of Shepherd's Bush, is charged with inciting followers to kill non-Muslims and was due to appear via video link before an Old Bailey judge for a pre-trial hearing.