Joe Biden meets Jacob Blake family and attends community meeting, taking aim at Donald Trump

Democratic US presidential nominee, Joe Biden, took part in a community discussion in Kenosha.

It was his first campaign visit to the key state of Wisconsin, which Mr Trump won unexpectedly in 2016.

The meeting came two days after Mr Trump visited Kenosha and, in a stark contrast to Mr Biden, declined to meet with Mr Blake's family while offering full-throated support for police.

Speaking to a small socially distanced group at the Grace Lutheran Church in Kenosha, Mr Biden condemned Mr Trump for exploiting the "dark side".

On a visit to Kenosha, Mr Biden met with his family for 90 minutes at an airport and Mr Blake, who is now paralysed, phoned in from his hospital bed. His mother led everyone, including Mr Biden, in a prayer for his recovery.

An emotional Mr Biden later said: "I had an opportunity to spend some time with Jacob on the phone. He's out of ICU [intensive care). We spoke for about 15 minutes.

"He talked about how nothing was going to defeat him, how whether he walked again or not, he was not going to give up.

"His mother said 'I'm praying for Jacob and I'm praying for the policeman as well. I'm praying that things change'. A lot of people understand fear doesn't solve problems, only hope does."