THE Home Secretary has today visited Salisbury and Amesbury in light of the ongoing nerve agent attack investigation, and promised government support for the city will continue.

During his visit this morning Sajid Javid met with emergency responders to "thank them for their professionalism and their dedication, for what they have been doing and continue to do - both with the original incident and of course now as well".

"I think they all genuinely felt they are getting a lot of support and I just thought it was very important I meet them first just ot thank them for what they've been doing," he added.

In an exclusive interview with the Journal, Mr Javid sent a message to local residents about their response to incidents of the past four months.

"You have impressed the whole country already, your local people, with how they have responded to the original incident," he said.

"It's sad it had to happen again, nobody would have wanted that, but given it has I think we have all been incredibly impressed by the local community and how they've come together.

"That gives the whole country more confidence."

Mr Javid walked around Salisbury and met with local businesses, community leaders and residents before visting the cordon at Muggleton Road in Amesbury, where he spoke to some residents affected by the ongoing investigation.

And he said the government will "continue to support [Salisbury and Amesbury] in whatever way [it] can".

After the nerve agent attack in March the government provided financial support of about £2million towards Salisbury's recovery and meeting police costs for the investigation.

"This time around already we have been discussing it locally with the council, with the local MP who has been fantastic and we are listening," he added.

"No doubt there will be further support but it's got to be based on what local people want, what they want to see. 

"We are ready to support in any way that we can."

Mr Javid said he felt "an overwhelming feeling of community coming together" in Salisbury and Amesbury.

"There are a lot of pressures and clearly there are many questions to come that can't be answered right away - we wish we could.

"People want to know exactly how these the man and woman in hospital came into contact with the nerve agent and we couldn't say that right here and now but I'm confident the police will find that out.

"There are lot of precautionary measures that need to be taken, that's why a lot of sites have been cordoned off, they will be examined for criminal evidence and eventually they will be decontaminated or given the all clear.

"Obviously that takes time and people want to know when and how long. I understand the questions but we have to leave the experts to deal with that and trust them and trust their professionalism."