An Essex MP has hit out at the Russian Embassy after it mocked the Salisbury nerve agent attack with a social media post.

James Cleverly, MP for Braintree, reacted to the Tweet from the Russian Embassy which read: “In the absence of evidence, we definitely need Poirot in Salisbury!”

The Tweet included an image of the fictional Belgian detective, created by Agatha Christie.

Mr Cleverly responded via Twitter and said: “The Russian Embassy is laughing at the fact that three people are critically ill after an assassination attempt.

“The unanimity of voice from the international, rules based, community sends a powerful message that this is unacceptable.”

Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia Skripal, 33, remain critically ill in hospital, after they were found unconscious on a bench in the Wiltshire city on March 4.

Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, the police officer caught up in the attack, is no longer in a critical condition, NHS England confirmed yesterday.