The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he does not understand why fundamentalist Christians in the US support Donald Trump.

The Most Rev Justin Welby said he "really genuinely" had no explanation for how the US President has secured such a significant support base amongst church-goers.

He made the admission as described the Mr Trump's attitude towards women as "completely unacceptable".

Questioned on why he believed the President received support from fundamentalist Christians in the US, he replied: "There's two things going through my mind: do I say what I think, or do I say what I should say?

"And I'm going to say what I think. No I don't understand it. I really genuinely do not understand where that is coming from."

However, he conceded that he would attend the official state dinner he has traditionally been invited to if the US President came to the UK on an official visit.

He said: "I've spent years and years involved in conflict stuff around the world where I met people who had killed many, many people.

"Part of the job is to meet people you disagree with and to testify of the love of Christ to them and to seek to draw them into a different way.