THE Russian state media has made a further jibe at Salisbury, by sending out models of the cathedral made of chocolate for its annual festive gift.

RT, formerly Russia Today, sent out the edible models in branded boxes wrapped with ribbons.

Russia's only independent news outlet, TV Rain (also known as Dozhd) was one of the recipients, and in a thank you tweet, said: "Come for tea, we're afraid to eat it alone."

Salisbury MP John Glen said it was "bizarre behaviour", but said "anything that draws attention to the world class attraction that is Salisbury Cathedral and increases visitor numbers in 2019 is welcome".

Diplomatic relations between Russia and the UK reached breaking point this year, after Theresa May held the Kremlin responsible for the Novichok attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March, which left two more in hospital and one victim, Dawn Sturgess, dead.

In September, the two known suspects were identified as Russian military intelligence officers.

Russia has continued to deny any involvement in the attack, and suspects using the aliases of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov claimed they had visited Salisbury to see the "world-famous" cathedral, especially its "123m spire".

This latest swipe at Salisbury comes a week after communications watchdog Ofcom found that RT had breached impartiality rules in its coverage of the Novichok attack.

RT has been approached for comment.