A top Home Office civil servant has suggested that troops patrolling Britain’s borders could be a 'last resort', if the UK left the EU without striking a deal.

The Home Office permanent secretary, Philip Rutnam, was questioned in the Commons Home Affairs Committee on whether the UK could sufficiently staff the borders in all possible outcomes of Brexit negotiations.

Speaking to Labour MP Yvette Cooper, the chair of the committee, Mr Rutnam said:

"I think it would be unwise to rule anything out. It seems clear to me that any use of the military would be an absolute last resort."

"Our preference – strong preference – is to deal with the border and security needed at the border, through border force and that is the basis in which our planning is proceeding."