The British Soft Drinks Association has said manufacturers have "only a few days" of carbon dioxide left in reserve to produce beverages and can't import supplies from the European Union due to Brexit.

Food and drink companies are set to quit Northern Ireland en masse because of "the added cost, complexity and trade friction" of doing business after Brexit, Boris Johnson's government has been told.

Northern Ireland bottlers are getting their carbon dioxide from EU countries while Britain remains paralysed by the closure of huge fertiliser factories.

The British Soft Drinks Association said manufacturers have “only a few days” of carbon dioxide left in reserve to produce beverages and can’t import supplies from the European Union due to Brexit.