A man who says he was tortured into confessing to a terrorist bombing in Riyadh has suffered a blow to his bid to sue the Saudi government for more than £2 million.

The High Court in London blocked accountant Ron Jones's claim on the grounds of state immunity.

It granted an application made by the Saudi government to have the action struck out.

Mr Jones, who lives in Crawley, was kept in a Saudi detention centre for 67 days in 2001.

The Briton, who was present in court with his wife Sandra, has vowed to continue his fight and hopes to take the case on to the Court of Appeal.

He told of being forced to confess to the bombing and claims he was subjected to various forms of torture.

His High Court writ, which cites the Saudi interior ministry and a ministry official, claims false imprisonment, torture and violations of his human rights.

Mr Jones, who was injured when a bomb planted in a dustbin exploded outside a bookshop in the Saudi capital, told afterwards how he was seized from his hospital bed, taken to a detention centre and tortured into confessing.

Following his release, Mr Jones said his hands and feet were caned and beaten with a pickaxe handle and that he had been subjected to sleep deprivation, beatings and psychological duress.