A mix of nervousness, celebration and shock has met Britain’s decision to turn its back on the European Union, following yesterday’s dramatic referendum poll.

Two in three Hyndburn voters is this morning celebrating the nation’s decision - with 66.1 per cent backing the ‘Brexit’ campaign.

But for others, the decision has caused profound shock and anxiety - exacerbated by a precipitous crash in the value of the pound and the Prime Minister David Cameron’s announcement this morning that he will resign from Number 10.

Nationally Leave’s total vote was 17,410,742, with Remain more than a million behind on 16,141,241. Wales and the majority of England outside London voted in large numbers for Brexit with Northern Ireland and Scotland voting to Remain.

After the final of the 382 counts was declared, Leave had 51.9 per cent of the vote to 48.1 per cent for Remain.

More than 40,000 residents voted in Hyndburn with 66.1 per cent supporting the Leave campaign and 33.8pc siding with Remain.

Hyndburn Conservative leader and Barnfield ward councillor Tony Dobson

Coun Tony Dobson, leader of the Conservative group in Hyndburn, who backed Leave, said he didn’t see the result coming.

He explained: “I’m pleased, as it’s what I voted for, but I’m still in a bit of shock. I didn’t think we would win.

“There will be a short-term economic blip as people around Europe come to terms with the decision, but in the next month people will start buying into the banks - it will settle in quite quickly.

“It is a significant development, but in a few months when things have started to settle down we will be fine.”

He described Mr Cameron’s decision to stand down by the Conservative conference later in the year as “very disappointing”.

He added: “He’s always said he wouldn’t do a full term, but I think we thought he’d stay until 2018 or 19.

“He truly believes we should have stayed in, so it’s hard for him to negotiate with his heart, soul and mind. I can understand it, but I feel an emotional disappointment.

“He speaks so well on behalf of the country and he looks Prime Ministerial - nobody jumps out as ‘that’s the man or woman to replace him’.

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones

Hyndburn Labour MP Graham Jones, who backed the Remain campaign, said he was not surprised by the result.

He said: “I thought Leave would win. I’m a white, working class person who’s been affected by the last 40 years of politics, so I understand where people are coming from.

“It’s been building up for 40 years, but we’ve shot the wrong fox.

“A neo-liberal government has been undermining the working class, and there needs to be a change in Westminster.

“Brussels was never the problem, Westminster was.

“The economic problems are being seen already, the stock market is crashing and the pound is now worth around 82p. That’s our pensions.”

Mr Jones said that now the country has to “steady the ship”.

He added: “I hope the Leave campaigners have a plan. If Boris Johnson and Michael Gove don’t have a plan we are in real trouble, meanwhile David Cameron will go down as one of the worst Prime Ministers in history.

“He’s created this problem himself. The people who have voted to leave are the ones he has let down.

“He had to go, we have to negotiate - you can’t have a drag anchor negotiating the exit.”

Conservative councillor Peter Britcliffe

Coun Peter Britcliffe backed the Leave campaign but is still nervous about the future of the UK.

He said: “I’m not at all surprised at the result in Hyndburn - people here have been telling me how fed up they are with how Europe is run for years.

“There’s so much concern about immigration in Hyndburn. A lot of people felt it had to stop.

“However, I am shocked by the result nationally, I felt it would be a north-south divide and the south would overrule us.

“I am nervous about the result, I wonder what will happen next, but it’s a brave new world.

“We need to stand on our own two feet and the people of Britain and Hyndburn are more than capable of doing that.”

He added: “David Cameron stepping down is the very, very sad thing about all this - I always feared that he would if we voted to leave.

“I feel he’s been a good Prime Minister and very good for the Conservative party. I wonder who will be the next leader.”

There have been forecasts that more than £100 billion could be wiped off the FTSE 100 today as the decision to quit the EU causes turmoil across global stock markets.

The pound fell to its lowest level against the dollar since 1985 as the markets reacted to the results.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage declared June 23 “our independence day” and called for the Prime Minister to immediately stand down in response to voters’ rejection of his passionately-argued advice to stick in the EU.