Theresa May pledged to "fight for Britain" by resisting calls for a second independence referendum and leading the Brexit talks.

The Prime Minister made the promise in a campaign speech in Edinburgh with days to go before the general election.

She told Scots she was a "passionate unionist" as she raised the prospect of Labour's Jeremy Corbyn in Number 10 with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon "pulling the strings".

May said she had been very clear "now is not the time to be talking about a second independence referendum" despite Ms Sturgeon's demands for another ballot to take place in the wake of the UK vote to leave the European Union

The Tory leader said: "We need to pull together in order to try to deliver on the Brexit negotiations, not trying to drive these four nations apart, which is what Nicola Sturgeon is trying to do."

She spoke in Edinburgh to a group of Tory activists, who were instructed to cheer and clap when she appeared on Monday or "it will look like there is no one here".

The visit came less than 48 hours after a terrorist attack at London Bridge left seven people dead and dozens injured.

The Prime Minister said: "In this week of all weeks we stand together, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as one United Kingdom.

"We are four proud nations but one united people, dedicated to our shared British values of freedom, of democracy, of human rights under the rule of law.

"While we mourn those we have lost and hunt down those responsible, we remain absolutely committed to our democratic process."

She added: "That is why, over the next three days, we will all be out campaigning to ensure that we can deliver that strong and stable leadership, that leadership that is needed to build a stronger, fairer more prosperous Britain for the future.

"I am absolutely convinced that we can do that because I believe in Britain and I believe in the British people."

May said Brexit negotiations are due to start less than two weeks after the June 8 election.

"Brexit matters because it is the basis of everything," she said.

The Prime Minister urged people to consider "who has got the will and the plan to just get on with the job and deliver that Brexit".

May added: "Don't forget those negotiations start 11 days after polling day and the fact is, the reality is, if we lose just six seats, the government loses its majority.

"That would mean Jeremy Corbyn in Number 10 and Nicola Sturgeon pulling the strings from Bute House."

While campaigning at a health centre in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, the First Minister said the SNP could help deny May and the "arrogant" Tories a majority at Westminster.

She said: "Given the narrowing of the polls in the rest of the UK, there is now every chance that a vote for the SNP can deny the Tories the crushing victory that they so arrogantly predicted at the start of the campaign.

"Indeed, some polls now indicate Scotland could be pivotal in deciding this election, with the issue of how big a Tory majority is - or whether they have one at all - decided here."