Leave in lead after over 500,000 votes declared in EU referendum

The Remain side is now a little bit behind of Leave as more than 500,000 votes from five voting stations have been declared on early Friday.

According to local media, a total of 266,721 people voted to leave the European Union (EU), while 259,790 voted to remain in the early morning.

After first counting venue Gibraltar declared its result as 19,322 voted to stay in the EU and 823 voted to leave, another seven areas have also announced the results.

Orkney Islands voted to remain as 7,189 people voted to stay and 4,193 voted to leave.

There was a narrow Remain win in Newcastle after 65,404 cast votes prefer to remain and 63,598 in favor of leaving.

A big Leave win has been witnessed in Sunderland, northeast England city, as 82,394 voted to leave and 51,930 voted to stay.

Clackmannanshire and Isles of Scilly voted to remain, while Swindon and Broxbourne voted to leave.

The final result is expected to be declared at around breakfast time on Friday.

(APD)