The Chancellor has brought this year's budget forward ahead of crucial Brexit talks. 

Philip Hammond has revealed the autumn Budget will take place on October 29, just over a week before a summit in Brussels.

Mr Hammond is expected to use the setpiece economic statement as a means to reassure markets as the UK enters the final stages of Brexit negotiations.

He said: "I'll set out how our balanced approach is getting debt falling while supporting our vital public services, and how we are building a stronger, more prosperous economy."

The event is three weeks earlier than 2017 and will come after a meeting of EU leaders on October 18 in Brussels where a final Brexit deal could be thrashed out.

It will also be held on a Monday instead of the traditional Wednesday.

European Council President Donald Tusk last week said the October summit would be the "moment of truth" for reaching a deal, and that "if the conditions are there" an additional summit would be held in November to "formalise" it.