The Kremlin has rejected accusations linking Russia it to the first confirmed UK death by novichok poisoning.

Responding to the overnight news that Dawn Sturgess, 44, had died in Salisbury general hospital, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was watching the "dangerous" developments closely.

"We are concerned about the presence of such poisonous substances in the United Kingdom," he told journalists at his daily press conference.

Amesbury victim Dawn Sturgess seen on CCTV day before Novichok exposure

The Kremlin was "unaware" of any official statement blaming it for the second novichok incident, he said – but such claims "would be absurd."