Donald Trump is allowing the “darkest forces of America” to take over the country, Joe Biden has said.

The former US Vice President joined criticism of the billionaire businessman over his response to far-right protests in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Mr Trump was widely condemned for saying white supremacist groups and anti-racism campaigners protesting against them were both to blame for the violence. Heather Heyer, 32, was killed and several others injured when a car was driven into crowds of anti-hate protesters. 20-year-old James Fields, who had reportedly attended the far-right rally, has been charged with her murder.

The US President initially refused to directly condemn white supremacist groups and later said there was “blame on both sides” for the clashes.

Writing in The Atlantic, Mr Biden said Mr Trump risked undoing decades of work on civil rights.

He wrote: “The giant forward steps we have taken in recent years on civil liberties and civil rights and human rights are being met by a ferocious pushback from the oldest and darkest forces in America.”

Asking whether it was “really surprising that [the far right] rose up”, Mr Biden said: “Today we have an American president who has publicly proclaimed a moral equivalency between neo-Nazis and Klansmen and those who would oppose their venom and hate.

“We have an American president who has emboldened white supremacists with messages of comfort and support.”

Calling Mr Trump’s stance on race issues a “special challenge”, the former Democrat senator called on Americans to “declare what the President can’t with any clarity, consistency, or conviction: There is no place for these hate groups in America. Hatred of blacks, Jews, immigrants—all who are seen as “the other”—won’t be accepted or tolerated or given safe harbour anywhere in this nation.

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

Mr Biden said the US is “living through a battle for the soul of this nation”.

Of Mr Trump he said: “He won’t stop. His contempt for the US Constitution and willingness to divide this nation knows no bounds. Now he’s pardoned a law enforcement official who terrorised the Latino community, violated its constitutional rights, defied a federal court order to stop, and ran a prison system so rife with torture and abuse he himself called it a ‘concentration camp’.”

That was a reference to the US President’s decision to formally pardon Joe Arpaio, a former Arizona sheriff who was prosecuted over his treatment of undocumented immigrants. Mr Trump was widely criticised for the decision, including by many in his own party.

Mr Biden has been tipped to run for president in 2020, despite having said he will not stand for elected office again.