The aide to a senior German politician has been photographed leaving a Brexit meeting with Theresa May holding notes referring to a “general election” and a “public vote”.

The assistant to Angela Merkel ally Manfred Weber was caught holding the notes, which also appear to attack the 2016 referendum result, outside Downing Street following the face-to-face.

His meeting was one of several that the prime minister held with German politicians on Tuesday, as she prepares for a meeting of EU leaders in Salzburg later this week.

The photograph shows notes setting out various possible scenarios, including a general election, a vote in parliament or a no-deal scenario.

In a section in Spanish that appears to relate to the 2016 referendum, the notes appear to suggest that the “public were deceived”, that “what was promised was not reality” and the UK is “proceeding without knowing what the future will be like”.

The notes also appear to cite “declarations” from cabinet minister Michael Gove, who gave an interview at the weekend suggesting a future prime minister could further alter relations with the EU after Brexit.

However, sources in Brussels told The Independent that the notes related to a meeting Mr Weber had with London Mayor Sadiq Khan earlier in the day, with the Labour politician's name possibly appearing at the top of the page misspelt.

Ms May will use Wednesday's gathering in Salzburg, Austria, to make a direct pitch to fellow leaders to back her divisive Chequers proposals.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said it was time for the "compromises" made by the UK to be "matched on the EU side".

In a sign that Brexit talks could go to the wire, the European Union is preparing for a final deal to be struck at an emergency summit in November, rather than the scheduled October meeting previously targeted by both sides in the negotiations.