Theresa May says talks won't start in 2016

Theresa May has said the UK will not begin official negotiations on leaving the EU this year as she held talks with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Speaking in Berlin, the PM said securing a "sensible and orderly departure" from the EU would take time.

But she insisted the UK would not "walk away" from Europe and wanted to retain the "closest economic links".

Mrs Merkel said the two sides desired to get the "best result for Britain" but urged more clarity on timing.

The process of preparing the UK for Brexit would require "serious and detailed work" but, irrespective of this, she said the UK was determined to maintain strong trading, economic and security links with Germany, which she described as "a vital partner and special friend".

"Of course, the nature of our relationship is going to change as the UK leaves the EU, but we both want to maintain the closest possible economic relationship between our countries and I believe that is what German and British businesses want too," she said.

"So it's good that we start from such a strong foundation and a position where both our countries believe in liberal markets and free trade and these should be the principles that guide us in the discussions ahead."

Asked how they had got on at their first meeting, in which Mrs May said they were two women and leaders who want to "get on with the job and deliver the best possible results for the people of the UK and Germany"

Mrs Merkel said she did not expect there to be any formal negotiations at this stage and it was "understandable" the UK needed a period of time to prepare.

But she said there was a need for a "certain timeline" with regard to Britain's exit and hoped the UK would begin to "define its principles" with regard to the process of activating Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the official, legal mechanism for leaving.

"We have to listen to what Britain wants and find what the right answer is," she said. "Britain does not want an impasse, Germany does not want an impasse and the EU does not want an impasse".