GERMAN chancellor Angela Merkel has said she will do everything she can to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

Speaking after Brexit talks with Irish premier Leo Varadkar in Dublin, the chancellor said the European Union member states will stand together “until the very last hour”.

“Every step of the way we will stand together, we will walk together,” she said.

“We do hope that the intensive discussions that are ongoing in London will lead to a situation by next Wednesday, when we have a special council meeting, where Prime Minister Theresa May will have something to table to us on the basis of which we can continue to talk. We want to stand together as 27. Until the very last hour – I can say this from the German side – we will do everything in order to prevent a no-deal Brexit; Britain crashing out of the European Union.

“But we have to do this together with Britain and with their position that they will present to us.”

Varadkar said that any further extension to Article 50 must have a credible and realistic way forward.

But he warned: “There is very little time left and we have to prepare ourselves for all outcomes.”