MPs including Chester's Chris Matheson and Ellesmere Port's Justin Madders are among nearly 300 politicians to be banned from Russia.

Earlier on Wednesday, Russia announced it had sanctioned 287 MPs from the country in response to "the decision of the UK Government to include 386 deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the sanctions list".

However, the list included one MP twice (meaning only 286 politician names were featured), and included several names of people who were no longer MPs, such as former Delyn MP Sir David Hanson.

Making the list were Labour's Mike Amesbury, MP for Weaver Vale, Chris Matheson, MP for City of Chester and Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston.

In response, Mr Amesbury said: "“I stand with Ukraine. This is Putin’s war, Putin is the aggressor. He has invaded a sovereign nation and we have seen the horrors inflicted on the Ukrainian people. Putin needs to withdraw.

“I also stand with those in Russia who are bravely opposing the war. Governments, including our own, need to step up sanctions against the Putin regime.”

Mr Amesbury, who has helped secure visas for Ukrainian refugees fleeing to relatives and hosts in his constituency, wants the Government to cut the bureaucracy involved in the process.

He added: “People have opened their hearts and their homes. The generosity of the public now needs to be matched by a generous response from ministers.”

Mr Matheson said: "I’m proud to be on the list of MPs sanctioned by Russia. I am glad my strong opposition over several years to the Putin regime and now to his war in Ukraine has been heard. I will continue to stand up for democracy and call for an end to this dreadful war."

Mr Madders said: "I’m on the list and proud to be so."