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The UK should end its administration of the Chagos Islands "as rapidly as possible", the United Nations' highest court has said.

The International Court of Justice said in an advisory opinion that the UK illegally carved up Mauritius when it ended its colonisation of the Indian Ocean islands.

It described the UK's ongoing control of the Chagos Archipelago as a "wrongful act".

Located in the Indian Ocean, the Chagos Archipelago is a group of seven atolls comprising of more than 60 individual tropical islands and is officially part of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Britain forcibly evicted around 2,000 people from the archipelago between 1967 and 1973 to allow the US military to build an air base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands.

The sovereignty of the archipelago has since been in dispute between the UK and Mauritius.

On Monday, the International Court of Justice ruled that Britain must "bring an end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible."

The opinion is non-binding, but represents a victory for islanders who were evicted by Britain.

In response, the UK Foreign Office said: "This is an advisory opinion, not a judgement".

It said it would look "carefully" at the ruling.

The UK previously said it would give the islands back to Mauritius when they are no longer needed for defence purposes.

The Foreign Office added: "The defence facilities on the British Indian Ocean Territory help to protect people here in Britain and around the world from terrorist threats, organised crime and piracy."

Lawyer Philippe Sands, who is representing Mauritius, said Britain must give up the Chagos Archipelago as the country will put significant pressure on the UK government.

However, he said Mauritius has good relations with the UK and that the ties between the countries "will continue to be excellent".

"A way will be found to move this forward," added Mr Sands.

Mauritius argues that the archipelago was part of its territory since the 18th century and was taken unlawfully by Britain in 1965, three years before Mauritius gained independence.

Many of those evicted from the islands resettled in the UK and have fought in British courts to return to their homes.