EU leaders agree that Britain cannot have access to the common market after leaving the union unless it accepts the principle of free movement, EU Council President Donal Tusk has announced.

On the second day of an EU summit, the 27 member states (British PM David Cameron arrived only for the first day) have made clear the the access to the single market goes hand in hand will all four freedoms underpinning the EU's architecture, namely the free movement of goods, capital, services, and people.

At their talks after the departure of Cameron, leaders have also ruled out any possible talks with Britain over its relationship with the EU before Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty has been triggered by London.

"Britain's withdrawal from the EU must be orderly and there will be no negotiations of any kind until the UK has notified the EU of its intention to withdraw," Tusk has made clear.

The freedom of movement is thought to have been among the sticking points for the Leave camp, which before the referendum argued the UK would be able to contol its borders in a more assertive manner if it left the EU.