Poland's foreign minister has become the subject of internet mockery after he said a non-existent country had added its weight to Poland's campaign to win a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Witold Waszczykowski said in New York this week that while visiting the Dominican Republic two months ago he had met ministers from "Belize and San Escobar". There is no such country as San Escobar.

The Polish foreign ministry told the Telegraph the gaffe was a slip of the tongue and may have stemmed from the Spanish translation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Internet wags were quick to pounce on Mr Waszczykowski’s error creating a San Escobar flag along with a Facebook page adorned with maps and photographs of the imaginary country.