BURY’S two MPs were among the 498 who last night voted in favour of beginning the Brexit process.

Proposals to allow Theresa May to start formal Brexit talks passed their first Commons test on Wednesday night, following overwhelming support from MPs.

The European Union (Notification Of Withdrawal) Bill was overwhelmingly backed by a majority of 384 MPs at its second reading and will now face further scrutiny before it becomes law.

Ivan Lewis (Bury South) and David Nuttall (Bury North) both supported the bill which will allow the Prime Minister to trigger Article 50 and therefore begin the two-year process of negotiation on Britain's withdrawal from the EU.

Only one Tory MP, former chancellor Ken Clarke, voted against the Bill, but Jeremy Corbyn was unable to contain a revolt by 47 Labour MPs.

MPs will spend Thursday poring over a Government White Paper setting out its Brexit strategy as the next battlegrounds in the debate over quitting the EU begin to emerge.

Hundreds of amendments have already been tabled for debate and votes between Monday and Wednesday and the objectives set out in the White Paper are sure to inspire more.

Downing Street said the White Paper would "reflect the Government's plan for Brexit as the PM set out in her speech on our negotiating objectives".

Ministers were forced to bring forward the proposed legislation after the Supreme Court ruled that Parliament's approval is needed before the Brexit withdrawal process can begin.