A Herne Bay mum& who helped halt plans by an Islamic group to march through Wootton Bassett has welcomed government plans to ban the organisation.

On Monday Islam4UK called off a planned rally in the Wiltshire Town, famous for remembering British war dead. Their decision followed a campaign by Jo Cleary, from Broomfield, who gained more than 750,000 supporters on social networking site Facebook. Now the government has announced the group will be made illegal under terror laws.

Jo was delighted the march had been scrapped, and even more so that the group will be outlawed from Thursday. She said: "I feel ecstatic, it's really good news and it's especially pleasing for the families involved. I was absolutely amazed at the amount of support and how quick it came in."

Audio: Jo Cleary talks about her campaign

Last week, Jo revealed she had received death threats as a result of her opposition, but had been given full protection from Special Branch.

Speaking after the government announced its plans to ban Islam4UK, she said: "It should be a given that they are banned. It shouldn't take 750,000 people before the government stands up to do something about this. They should be banned automatically."

When the banning order comes into effect on Thursday it will make being a member of Islam4UK a criminal offence, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.