Bernie Sanders is celebrating his win in the Nevada caucuses and setting his sights on Donald Trump as his main electoral foe.

At a rally in San Antonio, Texas, shortly after being announced as the winner in the Silver State, Mr Sanders delivered a stirring victory speech touching on a range of issues from healthcare reforms to fighting climate change to implementing stronger gun control measures.

And, taking the fight straight to the president and beyond, Mr Sanders cast Mr Trump as a corrupt politician and slammed him for his propensity for lies from the Oval Office.

“The American people are sick and tired of a government which is based on greed, corruption and lies. They want an Administration which is based on the principles of justice — economic justice, social justice, racial justice & environmental justice,” Mr Sanders said.

And, later, Mr Sanders cast the fight ahead as one of unity, and of transformation across the country.

Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters

“If we understand that we are all in this together. That my family has to care about your family. Your family has to care about my family. Brothers and sisters, if we come together, we will not only defeat Trump we will create a country an economy that works for all of us, not just the wealthy campaign contributors,” he said.

Mr Sanders had left Nevada early, even before voters in the Silver State had started caucusing in the first in the West contest.

Final results were still trickling in overnight but it became quickly apparent that Mr Sanders had won. It seems likely he will end up with twice as many votes as his nearest rival.

The first three states only award a tiny fraction of the delegates needed to capture the nomination so it remains to be seen if Mr Sanders can carry this early momentum to victory.

Trump gloated on social media and used the result to try to stoke tension between the frontrunners.