THERESA May has ordered officials to step up crisis planning for a "no deal" Brexit.

The PM wants measures in place to keep Britain moving if she returns empty-handed from crunch EU talks.

Ministers have identified eight worst case scenarios which could arise if we crash out without an agreement.

They include drug, fuel and energy shortages, collapse of the pound and house prices and businesses relocating.

But last night Brexiteers claimed Downing Street was "in a state of panic" over the likely failure of her Chequers plan.

They dismissed warnings of chaos as "Project Fear reborn for the umpteenth time".

A senior No 10 official has hosted informal dinners with Eurosceptic MP in a bid to get them behind the blueprint, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.

Guests were warned of "an absolute car crash" if Britain leaves without a deal on March 29.

The official outlined eight possible scenarios which would trigger a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee.

The warning has raised eyebrows among some MPs as the official concerned is an avowed Brexiteer.

He told a recent gathering: "The Remainers might have cried wolf with Project Fear.

"But just think about the story of the boy who cried wolf.

There actually was a wolf - and in the end he ate the boy."

Last night Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said: "It appears that Downing Street is in a state of panic.

"It is the job of government to avoid panic, not create it.

"After Brexit we will maintain control of our own imports.

There is no need for shortages so we should remain calm and ensure life carries on
as normal - not precipitate a crisis."

Fellow Tory Priti Patel added: "Theresa May has constantly told us that no deal is better than a bad deal.

"Only last week, in an interview with The Sun on Sunday, she said she wasn't bluffing about that.

"So why all the fresh scaremongering now?

"The government has also told us that no deal preparation is in hand so there should be nothing to fear.

If this official thinks there is, what on earth have they been doing over the past few months?"

The government is bracing itself in case supply chains creak or even break in the event of Britain leaving without a deal in 174 days.

The eight feared scenarios being touted by the Number 10 official are a drug shortage, with a maximum of two weeks supply of medicines, border problems, including lorry tailbacks at Dover, blackouts, a collapse in the pound's value, sat navs failing to update, breakdown of the European Arrest Warrant, a huge fall in house prices and businesses pulling out of Britain.

They have all been dismissed as scaremongering.

Lib Dem MP Layla Moran, an anti-Brexit campaigner, said: "It is clear the PM was blatantly lying when she said no deal is better than a bad deal.

"The list of consequences for the NHS, crime and jobs beggars belief."