US President Barack Obama has dined with a group of Republican senators in an effort to advance budget negotiations, the White House has said.

However, Republican leaders, with whom Mr Obama's budget talks had stalled in recent weeks, were not invited.

The two sides are at odds over how to reduce the US budget deficit, with Republicans firmly resisting tax rises.

The meeting follows their failure last week to avert $85bn (£56bn) in automatic cuts to the federal budget.

'Common sense caucus'

Wednesday's dinner follows several phone calls the president has held in recent days with Republican senators, some of whom have responded warmly to the gesture.

"This is how you solve hard problems," South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham told the Associated Press.

"We're talking about following up on that, how we can get more people in the mix, so what I see from the president is incredibly encouraging."

It was held at Washington's Jefferson Hotel - a neutral location - for about an hour-and-a-half.

The move suggests Mr Obama hopes to consolidate support among a group of Republicans who appear prepared to negotiate, analysts say.

The president has referred in previous remarks to a "common sense caucus".

He is following the dinner with a lunch at the Capitol with Senate Republicans on 14 March - a rare incursion for the president into hostile territory.

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate said: "We have numerous challenges facing the country, and Republicans have offered the president serious solutions to shrink Washington spending and grow the economy.

"And we will have an opportunity to discuss them with the president at the lunch.."