Google has issued an apology for a racially offensive image of Michelle Obama that pops up on its search engine when users hunt for snaps of the US First Lady.

The California-based Internet giant posted a text ad above the rude photo that ended up as the number-one result for Mrs Obama on its site.

The ad reads: “Sometimes our search results can be offensive. We agree.”, reports the Daily Express.

Netizens clicking on the ad are taken to a letter from the company that says its results “can include disturbing content, even from innocuous queries”, and adds that Google does not endorse content on these websites.

The company wrote: “We apologise if you”ve had an upsetting experience using Google.”