Bernie Sanders ended his insurgent campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, meaning Joe Biden will be the party's presumptive choice to take on Donald Trump in November.

Mr Sanders, 78, vowed to work with Mr Biden to defeat Mr Trump, but said he would also continue to fight for his democratic socialist policies.

He told supporters of his movement: "Please stay in this fight with me. The struggle continues."

Despite ending his campaign Mr Sanders will remain on the ballot in states that have yet to vote in the Democratic nomination process.

He will "continue working to assemble as many delegates as possible" at the party's national convention in the summer, he said.

That will allow him to exert "significant influence" over the party's official policy platform going into the November election, dragging all Democrats to the left.

Mr Sanders said: "The path towards victory is virtually impossible. While we are winning the ideological battle, and winning the support of so many young people, and working people, throughout the country, I have concluded that this battle for the Democratic nomination will not be successful.

"I congratulate Joe Biden, a very decent man, who I will work with to move our progressive ideas forward."