LONDON (Reuters) - The proportion of Britons who say they will vote to remain part of the European Union in a forthcoming referendum has narrowed by eight points over the last month, an opinion poll showed on Monday (Feb 15).

Forty-nine per cent of the British public said they would vote to stay in the European Union, while 41 per cent said they would vote to leave, the ComRes poll for ITV News showed.

In January, 54 per cent said they would vote to remain, with 36 per cent against.

Prime Minister David Cameron hopes to reach a deal to reform the European Union at a summit of EU leaders later this week, which he would put to voters in a referendum expected to be held in June.