Watford’s Elected Mayor Dorothy Thornhill says those who voted Leave will be disillusioned by the consequences of Brexit.

The town’s result came down to 252 votes - and she fears the decision has left the country “deeply divided”.

She said: “I’m not going to pretend I wasn’t absolutely devastated by the result.

“Watford was the closest result in the country, split almost 50/50 with just a couple of hundred votes in it. I desperately wanted us to be a ‘remain’ town but it wasn’t to be.

“What surprised me during the campaign were the reasons people gave for voting leave – from wanting a council house to deporting all immigrants and everything in between.

“Those who voted leave did so for heartfelt and serious reasons but few of their concerns will be solved by leaving.

"There is no £350 million a week for the NHS, the economy is far from secure, and immigration isn’t going to stop.

"I do fear that those who voted leave will only be disillusioned further as the promises made to them unravel.

“We now have to assess the impact that leaving the EU will have on Watford, especially our finances.

"I can’t pretend there won’t be consequences and we will have to deal with them. We are now a deeply divided country and we need to work hard to piece our society back together.”