Obama to visit Flint after invitation from eight-year-old resident

The US president will go to the Michigan city currently battling a toxic water crisis, after Mari Copeny wrote saying a visit 'would really lift people's spirits'

Barack Obama will visit Flint, Michigan for the first time next week, to be briefed on efforts to tackle the toxic water crisis that has plagued the city.

The US president will visit Flint on 4 May to speak to residents "about the public health crisis, receive an in-person briefing on the federal efforts in place " and deliver remarks to community members", according to a White House official.