Hartlepool votes with massive 70% support for Leave in EU Referendum

The town cast 32,071 ballots in favour of Brexit, compared with 14,029 in favour of staying in the EU. The turnout was 65.5%.

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The result will be a slap in the face for Hartlepool's pro-EU MP Iain Wright, who we have so far been unable to reach for comment.

But Ukip campaigners have been celebrating a good crop of results in the North East, with Sunderland and South Tyneside also returning resounding results in favour of leaving the EU.

Speaking at the regional results centre in Sunderland, North East UKIP organiser Richard Elvin said: "I feel elated. I'm absolutely over the moon. It's been a wonderful campaign, we had a fantastic campaign team.

"They all worked their socks off, they worked really, really hard, day in and day out, until the last minute. They never put the brakes on.

"They've done a marvellous job and it's manifested itself in a fantastic result.

"But we have to wait and see what happens nationally, it could all mean nothing.

He added: "They are very fair-minded people here in the North East and what they can't understand is that the people they vote for, can't make all the laws they have to live by. EU's laws are made in Brussels and automatically legalised by the Houses of Parliament. It's part of our legal system and we've got no say in it.

"They are also concerned by the levels of immigration. The North East hasn't had a lot of immigration, but seeing what's happening in other parts of the country, they don't want that here.

"It doesn't work for the average working man. It's for big corporations and the little people at the bottom, the hardworking people, they end up paying the price."