The Archbishop of Canterbury has once again condemned the recent violence across the UK, labelling the use of Christian imagery by some rioters as an "outrage".

Writing in The Guardian, Most Rev Justin Welby stated that the riots were “detonated by lies and fuelled by deliberate misinformation, spread quickly online by bad actors with malignant motivations”.

The archbishop criticised the use of Christian iconography by far-right rioters. He said: “Let me say clearly now to Christians that they should not be associated with any far-right group – because those groups are unchristian. Let me say clearly now to other faiths, especially Muslims, that we denounce people misusing such imagery as fundamentally antichristian.”

The senior cleric also praised community leaders who have worked to ease tensions. “We must develop and cherish these examples of civic virtue that have been counter-messages to those of the mob,” he added. “Embracing the opportunities and challenges offered by living in such a diverse country is a task for all of us, and it is clear from the last few weeks that that work is long overdue,” he added.

Earlier this week, the senior Church of England leader told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme:  "This (violence) is not the United Kingdom. It's not British. It's not English. They defile the flag that they wrap themselves in."

Calling for peace, he added that "violence and swearing in the face of police from a distance of two foot is never going to convince anyone".

On Sunday, the justice secretary said the impact of recent far-right riots will be felt for years to come. The violence followed the deaths of three young girls who were killed at a dance class in Southport.