WORCESTER'S MP has said the UK will "automatically" leave the EU Single Market under Brexit.

Robin Walker, who is a minister in the Department for Exiting the European Union, has confirmed that Britain will automatically be dumped from it once the country is no longer part of the bloc.

His comments come despite Prime Minister Theresa May's desire to keep her negotiating strategy secret, including any details on what will happen to the current free trade membership.

Mr Walker's admission came as part of a parliamentary answer published just before MPs broke for Christmas.

In it, he said Single Market membership will "automatically cease to apply" as soon as we leave the union.

The Single Market, known formally as the European Economic Area (EEA), allows different countries around Europe to trade cross-border as easily as they can within their own homelands.

It also means each nation has to agree on freedom of movement, something ministers are intent on ending as part of Brexit.

Mr Walker said: "As the UK is party to the EEA agreement only in its capacity as an EU member state, once we leave the European Union the EEA agreement will automatically cease to apply to the UK."

In recent weeks Downing Street has repeatedly refused to clarify if Britain is set to leave the Single Market under Brexit.

But the Government is hoping to strike an agreement to retain free trade and wrestle back control of British borders, a deal which would be unprecedented.

A Department for Exiting the EU spokesperson said: "The minister was simply making the same point the government has made before. 

"We have always been clear that we want UK companies to have the maximum freedom to trade with and operate in the Single Market – and to let European businesses do the same here. We have not ruled out any options at this stage. 

"We are committed to getting the best possible deal as we leave the EU - not a model based on any other country's but one that is unique to Britain."

It comes as Britain's ambassador to Brussels quit his post without warning, accusing the Government of "muddled thinking" over Brexit.

Sir Ivan Rogers has resigned from his role just three months before formal talks on leaving the EU are about to begin, and before his contract was due to end in November.

He was known as a strong Europhile and has urged British politicians to avoid getting into "muddled thinking" over Brexit.