Russia's Ambassador to Ireland has said people have been sending him letters of support after the Salisbury spy poisoning.

The Russian foreign ministry has ordered Britain to reduce the number of diplomats in Moscow down to the same amount that Russia has in London as the row over the attempted assassination of a Russian spy in Salisbury continues.

The niece of poisoned spy Sergei Skripal has said her uncle and cousin have only a slim chance of surviving.

Latest: Russia will refuse to meet Theresa May's midnight deadline unless Britain agrees to send Moscow samples of the nerve agent used to poison Sergei Skripal.