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The rate of population growth across the world to approaching seven billion is "unsustainable" a Conservative MP has warned.

Speaking during Commons Business questions, Tobias Ellwood joked he had "modestly added" to the total, but said such an increase would bring "undue pressures" on water, food and jobs.

He said: "When I was born the global population was three billion, it's about to breach seven billion and whilst I can say I've modestly added to that, it's not all my fault. Such increase though is unsustainable and it will bring undue pressures to water, food and even jobs as well.

"Can I invite the Leader of the House to have a debate about this very difficult subject which we do need to embrace in the future?"

The UK population is on course to reach 70 million within 16 years, fuelled by the number of migrants coming to the country, figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the UK was set to reach the milestone by mid-2027.

Within 25 years, the UK population is set to swell from 62.3 million last year to 73.2 million, with more than two thirds of this increase a result of immigration, the figures showed.

Commons Leader Sir George Young replied: "We're all in this together."

He added: "So far as immigration is concerned, he will know the steps being taken by the Home Secretary to reduce net migration down to tens of thousands rather than hundreds of thousands, the steps we've taken on students, on spouses and on workers, that will all have a downward impact on the future level of population in the UK which I hope he might welcome."