BOLTON has joined the rest of the country in voting for Britain to leave the European Union.

On a remarkable night for British politics, Bolton declared a decisive vote in favour of leaving the union, with the nation following suit.

The final result saw 58 per cent of those who voted in the borough opt for a Brexit.

Leave campaigners cheered loudly at Bolton Arena as it was announced that 80,491 people had voted Leave — a sizeable majority over the 57,589 remain voters in the town.

It transpired that the rest of the country went on to back Bolton’s message and after a narrow victory, the United Kingdom will now begin the complicated process of leaving the European Union.

For some, this is a shocking and scary result and the economic markets have already suffered a slump with the value of the pound dropping dramatically in the immediate aftermath of the surprise result.

But others — including many in Bolton — have always maintained that a Brexit will create a great deal of opportunity for the country going forward.

One of those is Conservative Cllr Andy Morgan, who has been one of the most vocal Leave campaigners In Bolton over the past few months.

He described the result as a “true independence day” and said it marks “the beginning of the end of the European Union project.”

The Heaton and Lostock Cllr added: “The country has spoken. We must all now get behind the decision and make this happen. I am delighted that my children and their grandchildren will be masters of their own destiny moving forward.

“We will not be the last of the 28 nations that currently make up the EU to vote to leave.”

In the run up to yesterday’s historic vote, Bolton Council leader Cliff Morris had strongly urged the people of Bolton to vote Remain for the good of the town and the good of the country.

After the resounding result in the borough — and subsequently the country — Cllr Morris stated: "The result is clear, the people of Bolton have spoken and we accept their democratic decision.

"But today we continue the work as your Labour controlled Council - which was re-elected just a few months ago - to work for the people of Bolton; fighting the austerity cuts being forced on Bolton people by this Tory Government.

He added: "We continue to face this as one community, and as one Bolton family."