Britain has hit back at Russia's 'grotesque lies' after the Kremlin accused Britain of faking a chemical attack in Syria.

Theresa May was locked in a face-off with Vladimir Putin last night after linking the Salisbury poisonings to the Syria crisis.

Arguing for action against the Assad regime for deploying chlorine gas, she cited the nerve agent attack on the Skripals as evidence that the 100-year taboo on using chemical weapons was being eroded.

And she later joined the US and France in launching joint air strikes against Assad's regime as a 'deterrent' against anyone 'who believes they can use chemical weapons with impunity'.

Russia claims it has proof that London ordered local volunteer aid organisation White Helmets to 'stage' the attack in Douma, eastern Ghouta, which killed at least 42 people and injured hundreds on Saturday. Pictured: Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, making the bold statement

Britain along with the US was within hours of launching airstrikes on Syria in response to President Assad's horrendous gas attacks, sources suggest. It comes amid reports from the BBC (pictured) that President Trump is shortly planning to make a statement regarding Syria

This is after reports that the Russian Defence Ministry claimed the UK ordered volunteer aid organisation White Helmets to 'stage' the attack in Douma, eastern Ghouta, which killed at least 42 people and injured hundreds.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's claimed that the Douma attack was 'staged' by 'a state at the forefront of a Russophobic campaign'.

Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday the military had 'proof that testifies to the direct participation of Britain in the organising of this provocation in Eastern Ghouta.'

He said that Britain had told the White Helmets, who act as first responders in rebel-held areas, to fake the suspected chemical attack in the town of Douma, but did not elaborate or provide evidence.

He added that London had put 'powerful pressure' on the civil defence organisation.

The White Helmets, officially known as Syria Civil Defence, is a humanitarian organisation made up of around 3,000 volunteers whose main activities are search-and-rescue operations after bombings, as well as supporting aid organisations and helping with evacuations.

They have previously been the target of smear campaigns online, which have been blamed on the Russian government.

Mr Konashenkov released statements by medics from Douma's hospital, who said a group of people toting video cameras had entered the hospital, shouting that the patients had been struck with chemical weapons.

Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said that images of victims of the purported attack were fakes staged with 'Britain's direct involvement, ' without providing evidence

Konashenkov released statements by medics (pictured) from Douma's hospital, who said a group of people toting video cameras entered the hospital, shouting that its patients were struck with chemical weapons, dousing them with water and causing panic

Konashenkov said that 'powerful pressure from London was exerted on representatives of the so-called White Helmets to quickly stage the premeditated provocation'

Mr Konashenkov's statements from the medical staff said the cameramen had caused panic, and that none of the patients in the hospital were hurt by chemicals.

Earlier today, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also seemed to be pointing a finger of blame at the UK.

He said: 'We have irrefutable evidence that this was another staged event, and that the secret services of a certain state that is now at the forefront of a Russophobic campaign was involved in this staged event.'

The strikes came after U.S. President Donald Trump had discussions with both Prime Minister Theresa May and the French President regarding an international response to the attack on Saturday.

Yesterday the Prime Minister told Cabinet: 'Since 1918 we have worked to uphold the international norm that chemical weapons are abhorrent and never be used.

'In recent years that international norm has been eroded and that should be a matter of deep concern to us all. The use of chemical weapons should not go unchallenged.'

The Prime Minister said Britain had to act in order to restore that norm, because the weapons inflict real human misery. Downing Street sources said she made the point that these weapons had been used a number of times in Syria – and also in Salisbury.

The need to restore international norms was shared by the whole Cabinet, Downing Street sources said.

A child is pictured receiving oxygen following the poison gas attack in the rebel-held town of Douma

May and Trump have agreed that whatever the final decision on airstrikes, the Syrian regime must not go unchallenged, however no decision has been made.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council this afternoon that Trump 'has not yet made a decision about possible actions in Syria.'

Ms Haley told the meeting, which had been called by Russia, that should the United States and its allies decide to act in Syria it will be to defend 'a bedrock international norm that benefits all nations' - the prohibition on the use of chemical weapons.

In talks: French President Marcon has discussed possible retaliation with UK and US and also spoken to Russian President Putin

She said Friday that 'the United States estimates that (President Bashar) Assad has used chemical weapons in the Syrian war at least 50 times.'

As for last week's suspected poisonous gas attack on the Damascus suburb of Douma, Haley said: 'We know who did this. Our allies know who did this. Russia can complain all it wants about fake news, but no one is buying its lies and its cover-ups.'

Macron, meanwhile, said yesterday that France had proof the Syrian government carried out the Douma attack, and has today been speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin says Putin and Macron spoke over the phone today, and have agreed to coordinate their actions to avoid further military escalation in Syria.

During their conversation, the Presidents had lauded the upcoming visit of the international chemical watchdog's fact-finding mission to Syria and pledged to join efforts to provide necessary assistance to that mission.

According to a statement from Paris about the phonecall, Macron had also told Putin he 'regretted' the Russian veto at the U.N. Security Council which prevented a 'united and firm response' to Douma.