Theresa May has claimed that Russia's western spy network has been "dismantled" after 23 nations, including the US, joined with Britain to expel more than 130 "diplomats".

The Prime Minister told Vladimir Putin the attempt to "intimidate" Britain with the Salisbury poisonings had "spectacularly backfired" as she hailed "the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history".

Mrs May vowed never to allow President Putin's espionage machine to be rebuilt after the US and other Western allies announced the expulsion of dozens of Russian intelligence officers.

President Donald Trump ordered 60 suspected Russian spies to leave the US - including 12 from the United Nations in New York - while 16 EU countries and six other non-EU members also gave Russians notice to leave. At least two other EU members will follow suit on Tuesday, taking the total to 25 countries.

Mrs May said the unprecedented show of solidarity, which outstripped even Downing Street's expectations after days of intense diplomacy, sent the "strongest signal" to the Kremlin that Russia "cannot continue to flout international law and threaten our security".