The Prime Minister's Brexit strategy is in disarray after MPs dramatically voted to take control of the process from ministers.

Three pro-Eu ministers quit the Government to back a Commons amendment enabling MPs to stage a series of "indicative votes" on alternative options to Prime Minister Theresa May's deal.

Conservative MP for Carlisle John Stevenson, independent MP for Barrow John Woodcock, Liberal MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron, and the Labour MP for Workington Sue Hayman all voted for the amendment.

Mr Stevenson was among 30 Conservative MPs to defy the whips and support the cross-party amendment which was passed by 329 to 302 - a majority of 27 - in another humiliating result for Mrs May.

Tory MP for Copeland Trudy Harrison and fellow Conservative for Penrith and the Border Rory Stewart voted against the amendment and in line with the whip.

Business minister Richard Harrington, who resigned along with Middle East minister Alistair Burt and health minister Steve Brine, said the Government was "playing roulette" with peoples' lives and livelihoods in its handling of Brexit.

The result means MPs can potentially dictate business of the Commons - normally controlled by the Government - for days to come, potentially paving the way for a "softer" deal that keeps Britain closer to the EU.

Ministers will consider their response at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet in Downing Street today.

The Government warned last night's vote had set a "dangerous, unpredictable precedent" and said it was essential that any options put forward by MPs were actually "deliverable".

"This amendment instead upends the balance between our democratic institutions and sets a dangerous, unpredictable precedent for the future," a spokesman for the Department for Exiting the EU said.

"While it is now up to Parliament to set out next steps in respect of this amendment, the Government will continue to call for realism - any options considered must be deliverable in negotiations with the EU."

Earlier in a statement to MPs, the Prime Minister warned she would not feel bound by the results of any indicative votes - which could include a softer, Norway-style deal, a second referendum or revoking the Article 50 withdrawal process altogether.

"No Government could give a blank cheque to commit to an outcome without knowing what it is," she said.

"So I cannot commit the Government to delivering the outcome of any votes held by this House. But I do commit to engaging constructively with this process."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also warned the Government must "take this process seriously".

"The Government's approach has been an abject failure and this House must now find a solution," he said.

"I know there are many members of this House who have been working for alternative solutions, and we must debate those to find a consensus."

The successful amendment was tabled by Tory former minister Sir Oliver Letwin with cross-party backing, including from ex-attorney general Dominic Grieve and Labour's Hilary Benn.

It means MPs will take control of the Commons order paper from 2pm on Wednesday, with Sir Oliver suggesting voting could carry on over several days to establish if there was a proposal the House could agree upo

Theresa May added that she would continue her efforts to build support for the deal - defeated by 230 votes in January and 149 votes in March - and stage a vote before the end of the week.

The European Council last week set a deadline of Friday for her to secure parliamentary approval for her Withdrawal Agreement if the UK is to leave the EU with a deal on May 22.

If she cannot get it through the Commons, then the UK has until April 12 to propose a different approach or crash out of the EU without a deal.

Her admission came shortly after a phone call with DUP leader Arlene Foster, who made clear the Northern Irish party was not giving up its opposition.