Labour MPs are demanding an apology from Prime Minister David Cameron over comments about the Hillsborough disaster in the Liverpool Daily Post.

In an interview with the North West daily this week, Mr Cameron suggested that families of the disaster victims were looking for a non-existent ‘truth’ about the tragedy.

Quoting Charles Darwin, he said: “It’s like a blind man, in a dark room, looking for a black cat that isn’t there.”

Liverpool Labour MP Luciana Berger is among those urging the PM to apologise, although Downing Street has insisted no offence was intended.

Speaking to Post lobby correspondent Rob Merrick, the PM said:  “I don’t think we will ever achieve closure on Hillsborough. I don’t think there will ever be one moment when you can say ‘that’s it’, as there was with the Saville Inquiry.

“It’s like, what’s the saying, it’s like a blind man, in a dark room, looking for a black cat that isn’t there.”

Ms Berger brought up the issue during Prime Minister’s questions, urging Mr Cameron to “apologise to the relatives and friends of the 96 victims for these grossly offensive comments.”

But Downing Street said the PM had been misunderstood and that his words had been intended to express “sympathy.”

A spokesman said: “The Prime Minister’s comments were not in any way meant to cause offence and he clearly regrets if they have.

“His intention was quite the opposite – he was expressing his sympathy for how hard it can be to find closure in coming to terms with grief.”