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Apple removed the Telegram messaging app from its app store because some users were sharing images of child abuse.

The explanation was revealed in an email from Phil Schiller, App Store manager, which was published by Apple news site 9to5Mac.

The secure messaging app returned to the app store within hours with fixes to prevent illegal content from being served to users, he said.

Shiller said the users who "posted this horrible content" had been banned.

The email, which 9to5Mac said it had verified with Apple, read:Telegram apps were removed from the app store because the app store team.

It was alerted to illegal content, specifically child pornography, in the apps.

"After verifying the existence of the illegal content, the team removed the apps from the store, alerted the developer and notified the appropriate authorities.

Including NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)".

Apple said it had implemented more controls to "prevent this illegal activity from happening again."

Telegram has been accused of hosting violent and extremist content on its platform in the past and its use was restricted in Iran in December.

And in November, Afghanistan decided to ban the app in an effort to prevent the Taliban and other insurgent groups from using it.

The messaging application has a high level of encryption and allows large chats of up to 50,000 users. Its secret chat feature allows messages to self-destruct after sending.

Prime Minister Theresa May recently highlighted the app as a place where criminals can hide their activities.

"No one wants to be known as the platform for terrorists or the app of first choice for pedophiles," he said.