Britain has voted to LEAVE the EU in a shock referendum result, which has prompted the resignation of the Prime Minister.

Kent's voters echoed the mood of the nation by delivering an almost unanimous LEAVE vote.

Pundits declared at 4.45am that there was no way back for the Remain campaign.

Scroll down for Kent results

At around 7am, the final result was confirmed - Remain 48.1%, Leave 51.9%.

The message was clearer in Kent, with 59% of voters opting for Brexit.

This closely mirrored the results of an exclusive Kent-wide survey conducted by Facts International, which revealed 57% of those polled backed Brexit.

Just after 8am, David Cameron announced that in light of the result, he will be stepping down as Prime Minister.

This was despite 80 Tory MPs - including Thanet South MP Craig Mackinlay, Canterbury and Whitstable MP Julian Brazier and leading Leave campaigner Boris Johnson - writing to him urging him to stay on as Prime Minister irrespective of the result.

The final result was a hugely dramatic turnaround given Ukip leader Nigel Farage had appeared to concede defeat soon after the polls closed, saying it looked like Remain 'may have edged it.'

VIDEO: How Kent voted

However, he later 'unconceded' as better-than-expected results were declared and at 4am made what amounted to a declaration of victory.

He declared June 23 as 'independence day', telling the Brexit camp: "If the predictions now are right this will be a victory for real people, a victory for ordinary people, a victory for decent people.

"We have fought against the multinationals, against the big merchant banks, against big politics, against lies against lies, corruption and deceit and today honesty and decency and belief in nation I think now is going to win.

"We will have done it without having to fight, without a single bullet having been fired."

Kent results at a glance

Maidstone was the first Kent constituency to declare, with 36,762 voting to remain and 52,365 voting to leave.

It was followed by Leave votes in Ashford, Shepway and Sevenoaks.

In Ashford 41,472 voted Leave, and 28,314 Remain. In Shepway Leave won by 37,729 votes to 22,884.

It was closer in Canterbury, with 40,169 to 41,879 in favour of Leave. In Sevenoaks, the figure was 38,258 Leave, 32,091 Remain.

In Dartford 19,985 voted remain, 35,878 Leave. There was a huge margin in Dover with 40,410 voting Leave and 24,606 Remain.

Swale saw 47,388 vote Leave, 28,481 Remain. In Gravesham it was 35,643 Leave, 18,876 Remain. Thanet voted LEAVE by 46,047 to 26,065.

Tonbridge and Malling voted leave by 41,229 votes to 32,792.

Medway voted leave by 88,997 votes to 49,889.

Tunbridge Wells was the only area to vote remain, with 35,676 votes compared to 28,320 to leave.

Turnout was high across Kent at an average of 76% compared to a national average of 67%.

The figure was 80% in Sevenoaks, 75% in Shepway, 77% in Ashford, 76% in Maidstone, 75% in Canterbury, 76% in Dover, 74% in Swale and 75% in Gravesham.

The turnout in Thanet was 73%, in Tonbridge and Malling it was 80%, in Gravesend it was 76%, in Medway it was 71% and in Tunbridge Wells it was 79.1%.

The markets have reacted nervously to the news, with the pound plummeting.

A Bank of England spokesman said: "The Bank of England is monitoring developments closely.

"It has undertaken extensive contingency planning and is working closely with HM Treasury, other domestic authorities and overseas central banks.

"The Bank of England will take all necessary steps to meet its responsibilities for monetary and financial stability."