Low skilled migrants from the EU would have to apply for permits to work in Britain after it leaves the European Union under plans being considered by ministers.

Sir David Metcalf, the head of the Migration Advisory Committee, told The Telegraph that both the number of migrants and the amount of time they spend in the UK could be controlled using work permits.

He said the scheme would be "pretty straightforward" to run and could be modeled on a previous work permit system for seasonal agricultural workers.

Mrs May has vowed that curbing net migration will be her "absolute priority" during Brexit negotiations, despite warnings from EU leaders that Britain will be forced to leave the Single Market.