LONDON (AFP) - Two British women were on Wednesday charged with raising money suspected of funding terrorism in Syria, the Metropolitan Police announced in a statement.

Amal Elwahabi, 27, from North West London and Nawal Msaad, 26, from North London were charged with offences "related to terrorist activity in Syria... contrary to section 17 of the Terrorism Act 2000".

They will appear at London's Westminster Magistrates' court on Thursday.

"Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command will continue to pursue individuals and networks in the UK seeking to support terrorists engaged in the Syrian conflict," added the statement.

Britain's intelligence services estimate that around 500 British fighters are currently in Syria, and fear they will return radicalised.

Two British men were charged last week with travelling to Syria for the purposes of terrorism, while another man was arrested on suspicion of attending a terror camp in the war-ravaged country.