The number of Britons who requested French nationality rocketed by 254 per cent last year in the wake of the Brexit vote, according to interior ministry figures, amid fears that expatriates could lose out if negotiations with the EU falter.

Divorce proceedings between Britain and the European Union opened on Monday, but interior ministry figures released by Le Monde suggest many British expatriates prefer to hedge their bets over the outcome by applying for French nationality now.

The number of requests jumped from 385 in 2015 to 1,363 last year, it said, a "record" number and a rise of 254 per cent.