After months of talks and a major last-minute hitch, the European Commission has finally announced that "sufficient progress" has been made in the first phase of Brexit negotiations and work can now begin on the all-important future trade deal.

The landmark decision has been welcomed by many this morning, including business leaders and politicians.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who led the Vote Leave campaign, was among the first to praise the deal, telling Radio Four's Today programme: "Theresa May has won." However, Nigel Farage has attacked Mrs May’s deal as "not acceptable" saying it allows the UK to move on to “the next stage of humiliation”.

We've rounded up the best reaction to the deal from the UK and Europe here.

'Not acceptable', says Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage has attacked Theresa May’s Brexit deal as “not acceptable” which allows the UK to move on to “the next stage of humiliation”.

The former UK Independence Party leader said on Twitter: “A deal in Brussels is good news for Mrs May as we can now move on to the next stage of humiliation.”

Later Mr Farage told the Telegraph: “The European Court of Justice will be the ultimate arbiter of EU citizens’ rights. This is not acceptable.”

Theresa Villiers, the Eurosceptic former Cabinet minister, said that she had concerns about the ECJ oversight but was overall happy that a deal had been done.