PLEASANT weather helped to ensure a steady stream of voters visited polling stations across the region today.

People of all ages and backgrounds flocked to schools, churches and community centres to have their say on the EU referendum.

Outside St Columba’s Church in Darlington, one young Remain supporter said the referendum had highlighted a generational gap.

The 23-year-old said: “I’ve voted every time I’ve been able, since I’ve been old enough.

“I’ve been fairly on the fence on this one but I’m voting to stay in because I believe it’s probably better for us than out.

“I know there’s a big generational gap, with most people my age saying they’ll be voting to stay in and many older people saying they’re out.

“I want to stay because I think it’s better the devil you know.”

Shop-worker Karan Singh, 21, said immigration was the main issue behind his vote to leave the EU.

He said: “There are already a lot of immigrants here and there’s a real problem with jobs.

“A lot of people are struggling already and finding it difficult to find work.

“If we go out, we can control our own borders – there are too many immigrants here.”

Meanwhile, officials insisted that Union Flags flying outside an EU referendum polling station in County Durham were to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday – and not a subliminal suggestion to sway voters.

Concerns were raised at New Brancepeth Village Hall, near Durham, that the red, white and blue bunting could be interpreted as a show of support for the Out campaign.

But electoral staff said they were left over from the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations last week, and were removed when they were made aware of suggestions of bias.

Gordon Mitchell, 66, who is retired, said: “It was decked out completely in Union Jacks. There was not an EU flag in sight.

“I am as patriotic as the next bloke, but on an event such as this it is not right to have nothing but Union Jacks. It should have been taken care of.”

Durham County Councillor David Ball, the village hall treasurer and who voted to remain in the EU, said: “It was nothing at all to do with the referendum.”

Opinion among voters at the station was divided.

Citizen’s Advice Manager Susan Phelan, who lives in the village, voted In.

She said: “A vote Out would mean years of uncertainty. There would be less jobs as people would be reticent to employ more people if things change. There would be too much uncertainty.”

Bus driver Kevin Ball, 37, who voted Out, said: “Britain should be self-contained again. We are getting overruled by foreign countries too much. There no jobs and no prospects. Simple as that.”