The European Union is to offer British Prime Minister David Cameron an "emergency brake" deal to limit migrant benefits as part of renegotiations, is is claimed.

Sources close to negotiations on Britain's new deal with the EU have said under the proposals the UK government will be allowed to ban new EU migrants from claiming benefits for four years - but only if it can prove the welfare system was "under excessive strain".

Mr Cameron will discuss the offer with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker when the two meet in Brussels on Friday.

Mr Cameron had been expected to visit Sweden and then Denmark - but cancelled the trip in favour of meeting Mr Jucker on Wednesday.

The four-year ban on EU migrant benefits had been one of the key demands made by Mr Cameron as part of his renegotiation objectives - and a significant sticking point for other European leaders.

The UK PM has said to Brussels he must be able to deliver on his manifesto pledge to voters.

The Conservative manifesto says: "We will insist that EU migrants who want to claim tax credits and child benefit must live here and contribute to our country for a minimum of four years. This will reduce the financial incentive for lower-paid, lower-skilled workers to come to Britain".

February 18th summit

However, the conditions on the benefits ban that Britain will have to prove to the EU its benefits system is under strain, are unlikely to be acceptable to many as success.

And they may not be acceptable to Mr Cameron, who will meet with European Council President Donald Tusk on Sunday and could approve the package of reforms.

Mr Tusk is expected to lay out the reforms for the other 27 EU leaders early next week with the hope that a renegotiation deal can be agreed at the summit meeting on February 18th.

If he accepts the offer then Mr Cameron will have to convince eurosceptic UK Cabinet members that he has done enough for them to back the campaign to keep Britain in the EU in the run-up to the referendum, which is expected to be held on June 23rd.

Campaigners for the leave campaign are likely to view the offer as a fudge that gives Mr Cameron a new deal success to offer to voters - but is ultimately unworkable.

As part of discussions Mr Cameron had discussed an emergency brake but this was on the number of EU migrants coming to Britain - rather than an option tied to the benefits ban.