The family of a man being held in Egypt claim he is being tortured in jail.

Ian Nesbit, 27, of Brackley, Northamptonshire, is among three Britons charged with being an Islamic militant.

His relatives say he has been given electric shocks and has been shackled and blindfolded by his captors.

The Foreign Office said it is taking the allegations very seriously and was trying to get more information from the authorities.

The other Britons being held are Reza Pankhurst, 27, an internet expert, and Maajid Nawaz, 24, a student at London's School of Oriental and African Studies.

Mr Nesbit was arrested for being a member of the banned Islamic Liberation Party while he was in Cairo studying Arabic in April.

Eight armed men with machine guns and hand grenades ransacked our home

Ian Nesbit's wife Humera Ihsen

The trio could face 15 years in prison after being accused of establishing a clandestine network and possessing leaflets promoting the government's overthrow.

Mr Nesbit's wife, Humera Ihsen, said he was being tortured for belonging to a "peaceful" political party.

Ms Ihsen said the couple and their two-year-old son had been living in Cairo when her husband was arrested.

"Eight armed men with machine guns and hand grenades ransacked our home.

'Peaceful party'

"They have since tortured my husband and treated us appallingly.

"I am now told, four months later, that my husband is charged with being a member of a peaceful British political party with no links to violence."

Amnesty International has also written to the Egyptian authorities about the prisoners.

Dr Imran Waheed, a Birmingham-based doctor who represents the Islamic Liberation Party in Britain, said his members were not in Egypt in an official capacity.