Britain voting to leave the European Union has seismic political ramifications - but also carries a huge personal cost.

Many Europeans have made Kent their home, and may be feeling slightly less welcome following the Brexit result.

Some have lived here for several decades, but are now facing uncertainty about their place in the world.

Among them is French-born professional magician Etienne Pradier, who lives in Wye and has performed in front of dignitaries including David Cameron and Prince Charles.

He says he has mixed feelings about Britain leaving the EU.

"I have lived here for 35 years so I feel more British than European," he said. "This is a shock for me."

Mr Pradier described conversations he'd had with a fellow parent at the school gates, who was Dutch but had also been in the UK for several decades.

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"She said she'd never felt like a foreigner at the school gates before. Maybe this is the start of something bigger.

"My personal feeling is that this is very bad for everything but we have to respect what the people have voted for."

Elsewhere, Chris Shaw from Donegal in the Republic of Ireland lives in Canterbury's Nunnery Fields.

The 37-year-old architectural assistant says he was left speechless by the result and fears for the future.

VIDEO: Kent reacts to Brexit

"I just thought it was crazy when I saw what the outcome was," Mr Shaw told KentOnline.

"My thoughts are now turning to the future and to what the state of the country is going to be in the long term.

"I’m even worrying about what this means for me staying and working in the UK.

"And I can’t believe that people in Scotland and Northern Ireland are happy, having voted overwhelmingly to stay in."

Landlord of the Red Lion pub in Milstead, near Sittingbourne, Patrick Coevoet - who moved from his native France to England 32 years ago - said he could not believe the result.

"It's very sad - really sad, mostly not for us but for our youngsters, especially when my daughter was 18 two days ago.

"I think most of the 18 to 30-year-olds voted to stay.

"I was having a conversation on the phone with my brother in France and I said 'I guarantee it's going to be a vote to stay'.

"I was 21 when I came here and I think it's just gone back in time.

The 53-year-old, who is married to Jo, said his friends and family in France could not understand why the referendum was being held.

"We don't think it's about to happen in France or Germany," he added.

Italian Barbara Biscardi, 30, owns the Vesuvius restaurant in Lower Stone Street in Maidstone, along with her brother. She moved to the UK in 1997.

"We chose this country because we believed it was filled with people who make intelligent choices" - Barbara Biscardi

She said: "I was a little bit shocked. I never though we would be out."

She said all her staff are Italian and some are worried.

"I think it's caused a lot of uncertainty over their pensions," she said. "There has to be a lot more communication from the other governments to let the people living here know where they stand."

The business uses many ingredients that come from Italy too.

Barbara continued: "It might take a little bit longer or could be more expensive to import."

"I am hopeful for the future. We chose this country because we believed it was filled with people who make intelligent choices.

"I'm not scared for the the future, but I'm anxious to find out what will happen in the first few months."

Rod Grossmann owns Pulpito, a Spanish tapas bar in Tunbridge Wells. He said: "It's a big mistake to leave. The cost is going to be much higher than the benefits."

He imports special products from the EU and is concerned that doing so will now be more expensive. He's Brazilian himself, but employs staff from Spain and Portugal.

"They are worried of course," he said. "There's not much clear information on what's going to happen.

"There's a long way to go. They don't know what to expect."