A BREXIT deal to keep close security links with the EU is all but done, negotiators declared.

But after intensive talks, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and EU chief Michel Barnier admitted there were still major “bones of contention” about the far trickier future trade deal.

At the same time, France sent a strong hint to Theresa May that she will need to stump up billions of pounds in annual cash payments to win the broad trade deal she wants.

Mr Raab and Mr Barnier negotiated for six hours after agreeing to intensify talks to win the race against time for a final deal by a new November hard deadline.

Hailing the progress on criminal and security cooperation, Mr Barnier declared: “Subject to reciprocity and guarantees as to procedural rights of suspects, we have I think all the necessary building bricks to build a close and effective relationship between the Union and the UK.

“There’s broad convergence of view on the ambition that we both want for our future cooperation.”

But the veteran French politician also sounded an alarm over the Irish border.

He insisted “urgent work” now needs to be done for a “critical” agreement on the tinderbox issue of a backstop arrangement to keep the border open.

And he said a Brexit deal must be signed by “November at the latest”, after both sides admitted an initial October deadline will slip.

After fresh deadlock emerged over the summer, Mr Raab said the pair were now “building positive momentum”, adding: “We made valuable progress.

“I am stubbornly optimistic that a deal is within our reach.”

Earlier, France’s Europe minister Nathalie Loiseau attacked the PM’s Chequers plan as too beneficial for Britain, saying it has the benefits of Norway’s full market access but only the light obligations of the EU’s trade deal with Canada.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “There has to be a balance between rights and obligations”.

The remarks were seen as a money demand, as Norway makes annual contributions to the EU’s budget in exchange for single market access, along with every member state.