A path can be found to resolving Britain's bitter dispute with the EU over Northern Ireland, Brussels' former chief Brexit negotiator said today.

Michel Barnier said 'there is a way' to end the disagreement over post-Brexit trade rules, known as the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Ahead of the third anniversary of Britain's formal departure from the EU, Mr Barnier pointed to a 'common willingness' to move past the row.

There are high hopes across London, Belfast, Dublin and Brussels that a solution is close to being found.

It follows a flurry of activity in recent weeks over the Protocol, with the UK and EU continuing 'scoping work' on a fresh agreement.

Mr Barnier this morning added his voice to the growing number of UK and EU politicians who have expressed optimism about the Protocol row ending.

Asked whether he thought a deal could soon be struck, he told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'I hope so. I think there is a way because for the first time since three years I see a common willingness... on both sides.'

But Mr Barnier - who negotiated the Protocol on behalf of the EU as part of the UK's divorce deal - refused to support Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar's recent claim that mistakes were made on all sides in the way Brexit was negotiated

'I think we left a certain number of points open for the discussion. I don't think it could be a mistake,' he added.

Mr Barnier also used his appearance on the BBC show - which coincided with the publication of his diary from the Brexit negotiations - to ask Cabinet minister Michael Gove why the UK Government had 'not yet' implemented Brexit agreements in full.

But Mr Gove insisted Britain 'absolutely' honours its international commitments, adding: 'One of the things about the Protocol - and it was there in the original agreement that we signed - is that a special committee was set up to look at the way in which the Protocol operated.

'Because both sides acknowledged, in its operation, we might need to adjust things.

'To be fair, the current European Commission and the current Irish government have said, "look, the Protocol as it was drawn up was implemented too tightly".

'So you have had Leo Varadkar acknowledging that change needs to come.'