Substantive Brexit talks between the UK and the rest of the EU are unlikely to start much before the end of 2017, a former European Council president says, according to BBC News.

Speaking to the BBC, Herman Van Rompuy described the UK's decision to leave the EU as a "political amputation".

He said negotiations were unlikely until a new German government was formed after next September's election.

The talks will be tough but hopefully of mutual benefit, he said, adding the UK had to make the "first move".

The UK voted to leave the EU in a referendum on 23 June .

Prime Minister Theresa May has previously said that she will not trigger Article 50 - the formal start of the process of leaving the EU - before 2017.

Leaders of every European Union country, apart from the UK, will begin to gather on Thursday, September 15 in the Slovakian capital Bratislava to discuss the future of the bloc.

Van Rompuy was president of the European Council, which defines the EU's overall political direction and priorities, from 2009 until 2014.