Pro-Leave voters across the UK have taken their own pens to polling stations in an echo of the independence referendum.

Campaigners urged those who believe that the Uk should exit the European Union not to fill in their ballot paper in pencil in case it was later tampered with.

In 2014 Yes supporters also used pens amid fears that their vote might be altered if they used the pencils provided.

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Some warned that the outcome of the poll could be “nobbled”.

One council in England, East Northamptonshire Council, urged voters not to use pens when they crossed their ballot papers, warning it could cause them to "smudge".

But the call was met with accusations of a conspiracy from some.

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In response the physicist and television presenter Professor Brian Cox quipped: "I voted in pencil just in case MI5 need to change it later."

Frustrated voters claimed online they had been told they could not use a pen in various polling stations – in the face of advice from the elections watchdog, the Electoral Commission.

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Because of the problem of smudging pencils are traditionally used, the Commission said.

"However, there is nothing to stop a voter from using a pen to mark their vote.”