BRITAIN is to supply armoured vehicles and body armour to Syrian opposition forces as it steps up efforts to end the humanitarian crisis.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has ordered more active efforts after securing a relaxation of an EU arms embargo to allow the provision of non-lethal military equipment to protect civilians.

Equipment to provide evidence of use of chemical weapons by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and training for armed groups in international human rights and legal standards is also being sent.

He said £3 million had been allocated this month for the work with another £10m to follow.

"The Cabinet is in no doubt that this is a necessary, proportionate and lawful response to a situation of extreme humanitarian suffering, and that there is no practicable alternative," he said.

It came as the number of refugees fleeing the country reached one million.

Mr Hague said the UK had fought hard to secure the changes to preserve an EU-wide approach but said: "We will have to be ready to move further."