Residents have voted emphatically to leave the EU as the rest of the country continues to battle it out in a neck and neck referendum race.

In Barking and Dagenham, 62 per cent (46,130) of voters backed Leave, while 38pc (27,750) were in favour of Remain.

The 63.85pc turnout – significantly higher than to the General Election – included 61 spoilt papers.

Peter Harris of UKIP said he was “delighted” with the result as he celebrated in Becontree Heath Leisure Centre, Dagenham, where the count took place this evening.

“Residents have spoken loud and clear, they have told politicians they have had enough,” he said.

“We want to take back control of our country, we want to take back our sovereignty.”

Across the UK, the two camps stand neck and neck. Both have won in the region of 3,700,000 votes with 111 of the 382 local authorities declared.

So far, Barking and Dagenham is the first London borough to have voted Leave, though only five of 32 have were counted at the time of writing.

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