Navy boats on standby to patrol UK waters as no-deal preparations stepped up

Royal Navy patrol boats will be deployed in UK waters if there is a no-deal Brexit (LA(Phot) Al Macleod/MoD/Crown Copyright/PA)

Four Royal Navy boats are on standby to patrol UK fishing waters in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The 80-metre vessels would guard British waters from EU trawlers in the event that there is no new agreement on fishing rights after December 31 when transitional arrangements end.