London: Britain will set up a new unit to beef up its efforts to counter so-called "fake news" and to try to deter disinformation campaigns by other states, a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said on Tuesday.

May has previously accused Russia of meddling in elections and its state media of planting fake stories and photo-shopped images in an attempt to undermine western institutions.

Theresa May listens at a news conference with Emmanuel Macron last week. Credit:ANDY RAIN

Russia denies interfering in foreign elections including Britain's June 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union and the 2016 US presidential race.

The announcement was made after a meeting of the National Security Council - a mix of ministers and senior security officials - which endorsed the initial findings of a wide-ranging review into Britain's capability to respond to all types of threats.