A MAN from Barrow accused of planning a terrorist attack against people at a gay pride event has arrived in court to face trial.

Ethan Alexander Stables, of Egerton Court in Barrow, was charged with a string of terrorist-related offences after he allegedly boasted about planning to "slaughter" people attending a gay pride event.

His trial is set to start today at Leeds Crown Court. The case is due to start at 2pm once the jury has been sworn in.

In a group chat on Facebook page National Socialists Union Standing Against New World Order, Stables, a former Furness Academy pupil, is alleged to have made threats to kill people at the event at the New Empire in Barrow on June 23 of last year.

He has denied charges of the preparation of terrorist acts and making a threat to kill.

The charge Stables faces of preparation of terrorist acts has nine separate elements.

One of these elements alleges that he was "reconnoitring and collecting information about the New Empire Public House in Barrow-in-Furness, including the taking of photographs".

Another alleges that his preparations included declaring to a Facebook chat group "his willingness and intention to attack and kill persons attending a Pride Night at the New Empire Public House in Barrow, Cumbria" on June 23.

The charge states he is accused of telling people in the Facebook group chat of his plan to walk into the venue and slaughter everyone inside.

Other elements of the charge include: "Conducting internet searches and/or accessing material relating to joining Combat 18, the proscribed terrorist group National Action, preparing for a 'Race War' and 'How to be a terrorist'."

It also alleged he conducted searches or accessed recordings of "extreme violence, torture, executions and other terrorist acts including killing sprees, rampage killers and mass murder".

Another element of the charge alleges Stables' preparations included "acquiring a number of weapons including a machete, an axe, three knives, a Kendo stick and a wooden practice sword."

The Mail reporter Amy Fenton is in Leeds covering the trial. Live updates from the case will be published online and available via Twitter at @amyfentonNWEM.

The trial is scheduled to last two weeks.