Reuters reports that Britain and European Union negotiators will resume trade talks on Friday with both sides warning that they remained far apart on a number of issues.

"It is a very serious situation. We will test every route to seeking a free trade agreement with the European Union, but we cannot do so at the expense of our national sovereignty," Britain's schools minister Nick Gibb told Sky News.

He was echoing a similar message from Britain's chief negotiator David Frost and Prime Minister Boris Johnson who spoke to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen late on Thursday to take stock of the situation.

Johnson's office said time was running out and the EU had to change its position substantially.

Senior British minister Michael Gove on Thursday put the chances of getting a deal at less than 50%.