A group of Orthodox rabbis in America have signed a letter attacking the "hateful rhetoric" of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The 40 ministers, who include Irving "Yitz" Greenberg, the founding president of Clal - The National Jewish Centre for Learning and Leadership in New York - wrote that their "core religious values and essential theological beliefs… require us to condemn Donald Trump's hateful rhetoric and intolerant policy proposals in the strongest possible terms."

The letter was published last Friday on American website Cleveland.com.

The rabbis also wrote: "There are times when the political discourse veers into morally offensive language and policy proposals that violate fundamental religious norms.

"We have been deeply troubled to hear proposals that condemn whole groups and which are justified by pointing to evil behaviours by members of that group or religion."

Mr Trump has called for a ban on Muslims entering the US, and has promised to build a wall to keep out Mexican migrants.

Currently sinking in the opinion polls, Mr Trump apologised last week for past remarks that "may have caused personal pain".