Australia has become the latest country to voice an interest in signing a free trade agreement with Britain after it formalises its departure from the European Union.

The new UK prime minister Theresa May has confirmed that she has spoken to her Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull over the phone, during which Mr Turnbull expressed an urgent desire to open up new trade links between the countries.

She described the call as a "very encouraging" sign that Brexit can be a positive move for the UK, following the extensive economic and political turmoil that has occurred in the wake of the vote to leave the EU on June 23rd.

Meanwhile, newly appointed international trade secretary Liam Fox has confirmed that further free trade talks may soon be opened with a number of other nations, with reports suggesting he will soon be flying to the US to commence discussions there.

Mr Fox said he is "scoping about a dozen free trade deals outside the EU to be ready for when we leave".

The UK is yet to trigger Article 50, the legal process through which its departure from the EU can formally commence, though Ms May has repeatedly stated her commitment to doing so.