Tory leader David Cameron has made a "big, open and comprehensive" offer to the Liberal Democrats as he seeks to form the next Government.

He said there were "many areas of common ground" between the two parties.

The Witney MP said: "The Conservatives ran a strong and positive campaign.

"We won a higher share of the vote than Labour in 2005 and a bigger increase in seats than Margaret Thatcher in 1979.

"But we have to accept we fell short of an overall majority."

He added: "Britian needs strong, stable and decisive government.

"Britian voted for change yesterday, but it also voted for a new kind of politics.

"We must show leadership. We must sort things out as quickly as possible.

"Nick Clegg has said that because the Conservative Party won the most seats we should be given the chance to form a government.

"I want to make a big, open and comprehensive offer to the Liberal Democrats. I work us to work together."

He said it was "right and reasonable" to acknowledge there were policy disagreements between the two parties, but he stressed that they also had plenty of common ground.

Mr Cameron said he would be willing to set up an all-party committee of enquiry on electoral reform, which the Liberal Democrats have campaigned for.

He also said the two parties could work together to achieve a low carbon economy and improve civil liberties.