Prime Minister Theresa May has upped Britain's Hurrican Irma aid package to £32million.

The category five storm is continuing to tear a deadly trail through the Caribbean. It has already left thousands homeless after destroying buildings and uprooting trees.

Mrs May's response came after the UK Government was slammed over its 'pathetic' response.

Britain has sent aircraft, helicopters, Marines and engineers to the Caribbean. Mrs May said her 'thoughts and prayers' were with all those affected. 

At least 10 people have died, including one in Anguilla, a British overseas territory that was among the first islands to be hit.

The Queen said: 'Prince Philip and I have been shocked and saddened by the reports of the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with all those whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed or adversely affected by this terrible storm.

'Please convey my gratitude and good wishes to members of the emergency services and to those who are working on the rescue effort at this very difficult time for you all. Elizabeth is the constitutional monarch of Antigua and Barbuda - a ceremonial role.

The Foreign Office today insisted Britain was doing its 'utmost' to bring urgent assistance after the category five storm caused devastation in the Caribbean.

A meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee to coordinate the response is being chaired today by Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon after Prime Minister Theresa May spoke about it with French President Emmanuel Macron. 

But the money towards the relief effort came after Dorothea Hodge, the former UK representative to Anguilla, criticised Britain's response as 'absolutely disgraceful'. 'In comparison to the French president who has set up an emergency fund, an emergency hotline and a reconstruction fund her response after the storm has passed is absolutely pathetic.'

Yesterday, international development secretary Ms Patel said three UK humanitarian experts and a British naval ship would be sent to the region.

But Josephine Gumbs-Connor, who is a lawyer on British-owned Anguilla, told BBC Radio 4 today that the response from the UK has been 'sorely lacking'.

She said Anguilla was 'utterly devastated' and has been left 'in absolute pieces', adding: 'Hurricane Irma, was off the charts in terms of strength.