David Cameron has called on Argentina to respect the wishes of the Falkland islanders after they voted overwhelmingly to remain British.

The Prime Minister said the 99.8% referendum vote in favour of remaining a British Overseas Territory was the "clearest possible result there could be".

Argentina responded with renewed calls for the UK to enter talks to resolve their dispute over the islands' sovereignty.

The result of the two-day referendum was celebrated by jubilant islanders waving Union flags in Port Stanley.

Of the 1517 votes cast in a 92% turnout, just three were against retaining their status as an overseas territory of the UK. Mr Cameron said the Argentines should take "careful note" of the near-unanimous outcome.

"The Falkland islanders couldn't have spoken more clearly. They want to remain British and that view should be respected by everybody, including by Argentina," he said.

On the islands, assembly member Dick Sawle said the vote should send out "the strongest possible message to the rest of the world about our right to self-determination".

Alicia Castro, the Argentine ambassador to London, said the referendum was "totally irrelevant" and "a manoeuvre with no legal value".