A British former GCHQ information specialist has claimed a Republican operative tried to recruit him in a bid to verify emails purportedly hacked from Hillary Clinton, potentially by Russia.

In the latest twist in the probe into whether there was collusion between anyone connected to Donald Trump's presidential campaign and Russia the British cyber-security expert Matt Tait said he had been approached by the operative last Spring.

A Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, which is investigating Russian interference in the US presidential election, called for the panel to immediately hear from Mr Tait.

Congressman Joaquin Castro said: "The House Intelligence Committee should hear from Matt Tait ASAP."