Boris Johnson has hit out at Donald Trump for his "ill-informed comments" calling for Muslims to be banned from the United States to ensure the country does not end up with "radicalised" no-go areas like London.

The Republican presidential front-runner defended his controversial idea for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" until authorities "can figure out" Muslim attitudes to the US by claiming police in cities like London and Paris were "afraid for their lives" because of large Muslim communities.

But Mr Johnson hit back in his typical style, saying: "The only reason I wouldn't go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump.”

He described Mr Trump's remarks as "complete and utter nonsense" and invited Mr Trump to visit the capital to experience the work of UK police officers in local neighbourhoods across the city.

"As a city where more than 300 languages are spoken, London has a proud history of tolerance and diversity and to suggest there are areas where police officers cannot go because of radicalisation is simply ridiculous," the Mayor of London said.

"I would welcome the opportunity to show Mr Trump first hand some of the excellent work our police officers do every day in local neighbourhoods throughout our city.

"Crime has been falling steadily both in London and in New York - and the only reason I wouldn't go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump.”

Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didn’t know the air conditioner didn’t work and sweated like dogs, and they didn’t know the room was too big because they didn’t have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall — and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me —and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY

David Cameron has not held back in criticising Mr Trump for his latest controversial comments, suspending the usual silence observed by world leaders that they do not get involved in foreign election campaigns.

His spokeswoman said the Prime Minister "completely disagrees" with Mr Trump's views and described them as "divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong".

Downing Street took the opportunity to condemn the remarks for a second time on Tuesday, telling a briefing with Westminster journalists: "That's twice in one day he will be disagreeing with Donald Trump; his views are wrong."

Leaders across the political spectrum in the UK united in condemnation of Mr Trump's latest controversial comments.

Labour's candidate for London Mayor Sadiq Khan, himself a Muslim, said he hoped Mr Trump's campaign "dies a death.

His Conservative rival, Zac Goldsmith, described Mr Trump as "one of the most malignant figures in modern politics," adding: "I hope his campaign ends in absolute disaster."

Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, took to Twitter to voice her dismay:

His comments, which came in the wake of last week's terror attack in San Bernardino, California, have also been denounced across the US political spectrum, with the Barack Obama saying they breached American values and Muslim groups in the US describing his remarks as fascist.