Hillary Clinton, the front runner to become the next President of the United States, has promised to ban gay conversion therapy on under 18s.

She made the commitment after her campaign was backed by America's largest LGBT rights organisation.

Gay conversion therapy is help from a psychotherapist for a person struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction.

It is supported by a number of church groups both in the US and UK.

In a Tweet, Mrs Clinton said: "LGBT kids don't need to be "cured," they need to be loved and supported."

LGBT kids don't need to be "cured," they need to be loved and supported. pic.twitter.com/GixB3AJrUV

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 19, 2016

Clinton has made LGBTI rights a key part of her election campaign.

She said: "I've been fighting alongside you and others for equal rights and I'm just getting warmed up, That's a promise, from one HRC [Human rights campaigner] to another."

The Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has expressed her desire to ban gay conversion therapy in the UK.