Theresa May has condemned the violence which erupted in Virginia between white-supremacist groups and counter-protesters, leaving three people dead.

In a tweet from the Prime Minister’s official Twitter account, Ms May said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with #Charlottesville. The UK stands with the US against racism, hatred and violence.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn echoed this sentiment, saying: “My thoughts are with those killed and injured in #Charlottesvile standing up to racism and hatred.”

Donald Trump belatedly condemned white supremacist groups that took part in violence scenes, but only following widespread criticism after he initially spoke out against hatred on “many sides”.

A 'Unite the Right' demonstration over the removal of a Confederate statue in the usually quiet, liberal-leaning university town of Charlottesville attracted hundreds of members of neo-Nazi groups and several members of the Klu Klux Klan.

The white-supremacist groups clashed with counter protesters, with pepper spray reportedly used by both sides, fist fights breaking out and bottles thrown.

A car slammed into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing a 32-year-old woman named as Heather Hayer and injuring at least 25 others. James Fields, 20, from Ohio, has been charged with murder.

Another 15 people were injured in street fighting, according to local hospital reports.

A police helicopter monitoring events on the ground also crashed, killing the two officers on board.

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.

Members of Congress from both the Democratic and Republican parties criticised Mr Trump's first response, claiming his comments were muted and failed to place the blame with those responsible.

“Mr President - we must call evil by its name,” said Republican Senator Cory Gardner, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

The founder of Daily Stormer, an American white-supremacist website which describes itself as “alt right”, welcomed the fact that Mr Trump “outright refused to disavow” the Unite the Right protest.

“People saying he cucked are shills and kikes,” said the site's editor Andrew Anglin.

“He did the opposite of cuck. He refused to even mention anything to do with us. When reporters were screaming at him about White Nationalism he just walked out of the room.”

Some Democrats suggested that Mr Trump was unwilling to alienate the racist portion of his voter base as he received the backing of many “alt-right” websites during his bitterly fought election campaign against Hillary Clinton.

Charlottesville Mayor Michael Signer said he was upset the white nationalists had descended on his town and blamed Mr Trump for inflaming racial prejudices during his presidential campaign last year.

“I'm not going to make any bones about it. I place the blame for a lot of what you're seeing in America today right at the doorstep of the White House and the people around the President,” he said.