Brad Smith, speaking in Brussels, tried to allay concerns as he announced that the company was expanding data centre operations across Europe.

A grace period on the movement of animal medicines between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is due to expire at the end of the year.

It said some of its back office and call centre services have been affected, but that all stores are trading as usual.

Metropolitan Police officer Martyn Blake was cleared of murder in October and force bosses argued he should not face a disciplinary hearing.