Donald Trump was shown pictures of children hospitalised by the Novichok attack in bid to persuade him to act against Russia, it has been claimed.

The US President, who had cast doubt on whether Vladimir Putin was behind the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, was said to have been shown the images to persuade him that innocent people had been caught up in the Salisbury poisoning.

Three boys were taken for hospital tests after they met the former Russian spy and his daughter in a playground before the pair were found collapsed on a bench.

Mr Skripal, 67, gave the boys bread which they fed to the ducks and the trio were later tracked down by police who saw the exchange on CCTV and sent them for tests.

It has been claimed that Gina Haspel, now the director of the CIA, may have been handed images relating to the incident by the British Government.

The New York Times said that Ms Haspel, who was at the time was deputy director of the intelligence agency, showed the images of the children hospitalised as a result of the attack to Mr Trump during a meeting in the White House to persuade him that the “strong option” was needed in response.