David Cameron considered last-ditch appeal to Angela Merkel

The then-PM called the German leader days before EU referendum on June 23, as opinion polls seemed to show voters moving to the 'Leave' camp

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron made a late appeal to German Chancellor Angela Merkel for limits on the free movement of people if the UK voted to 'Remain' in the European Union (EU), the BBC said on Saturday.

The then-Prime Minister called the German leader days before the EU referendum on June 23, as opinion polls seemed to show voters moving to the 'Leave' camp.

But he later abandoned the idea of getting her and other EU leaders to make a statement granting concessions.

According to the BBC, Cameron telephoned the German chancellor to ask whether she would be willing to issue a statement with fellow EU leaders granting the UK concessions on free movement.

Cameron approached Merkel after 'Leave' vote had dominated the campaign in the wake of the publication official migration statistics at the end of May. These showed the government had once again failed to meet its net migration target.

The BBC said that at an EU summit after the EU referendum the German chancellor made clear to Cameron that there could be no compromise for EU members on rules governing the free movement of people.