MID Worcestershire MP Nigel Huddleston says he is "pleased and relieved" a Brexit deal has been reached.

The deal was announced on Christmas Eve bringing to a close a saga that lasted more than four years. It was set to go before MPs yesterday, ensuring it should pass into law in time for the ending of the transitional period on January 1.

The MP said: "Like most of my constituents I was pleased and relieved that the Prime Minister secured a future trading arrangement with the EU.

"This will be good news to both UK companies who trade with the EU and the many EU companies who trade with the UK. I know the deal has been particularly welcomed by the food production, vehicle manufacturing, and transport and tourism industries which are all important sectors employing thousands of people in my constituency.

"I am confident that the deal will be approved by parliament and I shall be voting in favour of it."

Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, said: “I have always respected the result of the referendum and supported leaving the European Union with a deal.

“I consistently voted to support the withdrawal agreement and I am pleased that there is now an agreed trade deal in place.

“I know that this news will be particularly welcome for the local farmers, growers and food producers who rely on tariff-free trading arrangements with the continent and this is also positive news for all the businesses who have contacted me in recent months who trade with specific European countries. This has been a long and protracted process, but the aim has always been to deliver on the choice of the British people to leave the EU whilst securing the best possible trading arrangements with our closest neighbours. I hope we are all able to move forward as a country and build an ambitious plan for strengthening our position on the global stage.”

In the 2016 referendum in Wychavon, leave won by 44,201 votes to 32,188, while Malvern Hills voted to leave the EU by 25,294 votes to 23,203.