The results are in after the Post asked readers how they’ll be voting in the European Union referendum on June 23.

Barking and Dagenham Post: People in Barking and Dagenham say it's time to get out of the EUPeople in Barking and Dagenham say it's time to get out of the EU (Image: Archant)

Whether it’s immigration policy, the Euro or trade restrictions, the UK’s relationship with the European Union (EU) has been less than harmonious in the 48 years it’s been a member.

The rise of Ukip in last year’s general election reflected voter concerns about the EU and resulted in David Cameron promising a referendum.

But with less than four months to go, the Post was keen to find where its readers stood on the question of our membership.

After more than 400 readers responded to a survey over five days, the vote is a firm “no” to Brussels, with 67 per cent voting to leave.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Barking and Dagenham Post readers used the survey to air their views about the EUBarking and Dagenham Post readers used the survey to air their views about the EU (Image: Archant)

Chief concerns were security based, with 85.1pc of respondents voting for borders to be more secure and 63.9pc believing the UK would be more secure from extremism and terrorism outside the EU.

Anonymous respondents were invited to add additional comments after filling in the suveys, with one writing: “Get us out of the EU as fast as possible”.

Another response claimed the EU was a threat to British sovereignty, reflecting the 67pc of readers of rejected ever closer union among EU countries.

“The EU represents the greatest threat to this country’s sovereignty since World War Two,” it read. “The only way to control our borders is to leave the EU.”

Only 26.8pc voted to stay in the union, with 6.2pc undecided.

One reader’s response said we should stay in the union because of its power to regulate corporations.

“The EU is necessary to enable regulations across borders to (try and) control global corporations,” it read. “There is a need for greater democratic control.

“Power should reside in the European Parliament not the Council of Ministers.”

Most people surveyed lived in Dagenham, which produced 69.6pc of respondents and 65pc of those surveyed had a household income of less than £35,000 a year.

And most disagreed with David Cameron’s warning that leaving the EU would threaten business, after just over one third of FTSE 100 bosses signed a letter in favour of remaining in the EU on Tuesday last week.

Only 37.1pc of respondents thought the EU is good for business, with 49.9pc saying it isn’t and 13pc declaring themselves unsure.

Even Eastern European shop manager Nataliya Vytvytska, 31, is uncertain how much leaving the EU would threaten her business.

She came here from Ukraine and manages E N Murena Ltd in Longbridge Road, Dagenham.

Though she is keen for Britain to remain in the EU and is wary of having less eastern Europeans to sell to, she questions just how big a threat a “Brexit” represents.

“If they stop people coming here it would be bad for my business but on the other hand people are already here and have families in this country so they’re not going anywhere,” she said. “Of course I would rather stay in because eastern Europeans are my customers but I’m not sure how much of a difference leaving would make.”