BRITAIN'S EU divorce starts today - with Prime Minister Theresa May poised to trigger Brexit.

After months of debate the premier will fire a letter off to European leaders to start the two years of formal Brexit proceedings.

The historic day comes as the results of a Bromsgrove Advertiser poll can be revealed, which suggests a softening of attitude towards the bloc.

We asked our readers how they would vote if the EU referendum was held today.

Some 85 per cent opted for Remain with just 15 per cent backing Leave.

The findings also led to a deluge of reaction with people writing and emailing in.

Yesterday Mrs May said the UK is facing "one of the most significant moments" in its recent history.

Calling for a "new deep and special partnership" with the EU, she said: "I am determined we should also seize this historic opportunity to get out in to the world and to shape an even bigger role for a global Britain.

"This means not just building new alliances but going even further in working with old friends who have stood alongside us for centuries."

SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

ARTICLE 50 is a legal right, created as part of the Treaty of Lisbon, for any country that wishes to leave the EU.

By triggering it today the UK will have two years to negotiate before it is officially out the EU, on March 29, 2019.

On April 29 an EU summit will take place of all the nation's leaders, without the UK, to give the European Commission power to negotiate.

The hard work will then start from May onwards, with frantic talks back and forth covering areas like trade, migration, security, the European Arrest Warrant, laws, and so on.

The European Commission - the EU's version of the civil service - has created a task force headed by Michel Barnier, who will be in charge of conducting its negotiations with the UK.

This autumn the UK Government is expected to introduce a Great Repeal Bill, putting all existing EU laws into British law.

The aim is to complete negotiations by October 2018 before MPs and the European Parliament vote on any deal.

By March 29, 2019 the UK will be out the EU - negotiations could be extended, but it would need the approval of all the other 27 member states.

If no agreement is reached in two years and no extension is agreed, the UK automatically leaves the EU and all existing agreements - including access to the single market - would cease to apply.

In this case, it is assumed UK trade relations with the EU would be governed by World Trade Organisation rules.