Emmanuel Macron has told Boris Johnson that the Irish border backstop is "indispensable" to any Brexit deal as the prime minister travelled to Paris for crucial talks on the shape of the UK's departure from the EU.

Speaking on the steps of the Elysee Palace, the French president poured cold water on the prospect of changes to the deal, saying: “We cannot find a new Withdrawal Agreement within 30 days.”

The exchange comes after German chancellor Angela Merkel suggested a solution to the Brexit crisis could be found if the PM came up with workable alternatives to the backstop “in the next 30 days”.

Ms Merkel later clarified her remarks to say it was not meant to be a firm deadline, only “an example” to show how little time was left before 31 October.