IS 'abduct 230 people' including women and children

Islamic State militants have kidnapped at least 230 people, including women and children, after seizing a town in the Syrian province of Homs.

Dozens of Christian families were among those abducted by the terror group, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Some were kidnapped from a church in the strategically located town of al-Qaryatain, which was captured after heavy fighting with the Syrian army.

Al-Qaryatain is near a road linking the ancient city of Palmyra to the Qalamoun mountains, along the border with Lebanon.