EAST Hampshire District Council's chief officer says she is “delighted” so many residents voted in the EU in or out referendum, which she said was the “key political decision of our lifetime.”

As well as being the council's chief officer, Sandy Hopkins oversaw the management of the referendum in East Hampshire, and the vote count in the Festival Hall in Petersfield.

She said: “The referendum was perhaps the key political decision of our lifetime. I am delighted East Hampshire’s electorate has taken this opportunity to have its say and turned out in such huge numbers to cast their vote.

“A turnout of 81.7%, which was ten per cent higher than in the 2015 general election, shows just what a historic moment this has been and how seriously it has been taken by the voters of East Hampshire.”

The district saw 37,346 voting to remain, while 36,576 voted to leave the European Union, giving the remain party an 800 majority.

The election also saw more postal votes used than ever before. In total 17,164 postal votes were requested and 15,417 votes were returned, a turnout of 90%.