Spy poisoning: Highest amount of nerve agent was on door

A Russian ex-spy and his daughter first came into contact with the nerve agent that poisoned them at their home, police have said.

The highest concentration of the agent used against Sergei and Yulia Skripal was found on their front door.

The pair were found collapsed on a bench in Salisbury on 4 March and remain in a critical condition.

Police said inquiries would focus on their home address in Christie Miller Road but the risk to locals was low.

Traces of the nerve agent had been found at some of the other sites in the city, but they were at lower concentrations.

Security correspondent Gordon Corera said the highest concentration was found on the Skripals' door handle, and could have been administered through a "gloopy substance which could have been smeared on to that door handle”.

He added it would explain why the nerve agent may have been found on the Skripals' car - which has been taken by police - or the restaurant in which they had eaten which has been cordoned off by detectives.

About 250 counter terrorism officers continue to work on the case, examining 5,000 hours of CCTV footage and 1,350 items that have been seized.

Officers would continue working at the address over the next few weeks, and potentially months, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said.

“Those living in the Skripals’ neighbourhood can expect to see officers carrying out searches as part of this, but I want to reassure them that the risk remains low and our searches are precautionary,” he added.