Associated Press

The British prime minister's office says Donald Trump has invited Theresa May to visit him "as soon as possible", in the first phone call between the US president-elect and Britain's leader.

May's office says in a statement that Trump "set out his close and personal connections with, and warmth for, the UK".

Trump has family and business ties to Scotland.

Trump also praised the trans-Atlantic "special relationship".

The statement said May "highlighted her wish to strengthen bilateral trade and investment with the US".

Britain is hoping to strike new free-trade deals after Britain leaves the European Union, but Trump has signalled he may take a more protectionist attitude to the US economy than his predecessors.