The home secretary has pledged to make it illegal to sell acid to under 18s.

Speaking at the Conservative party conference in Manchester today, Amber Rudd branded attacks using acid and other noxious substances “revolting”.

She said: “You have all seen the pictures of victims that never fully recover. Endless surgeries. Lives ruined.

“So today, I am also announcing a new offence to prevent the sale of acids to under 18s.

“Furthermore, given its use in the production of so-called ‘mother of Satan’ homemade explosives, I also announce my intention to drastically limit the public sale of sulphuric acid.”

Ms Rudd also outlined a new consultation on offensive weapons, which will be published in the autumn.

New measures could include stopping the sale of knives online to someone under the age of 18, making it illegal to keep certain types of weapons - such as flick knives and zombie knives - at home, making it illegal to sell the most harmful corrosive substances to someone under the age of 18 and preventing people having a corrosive substance in public without good reason.

She said: “We are going to prevent children purchasing knives online, and we are going to stop people carrying acid in public if they don’t have a good reason.”