THEY say that ‘as Swindon goes, so goes the country’ and this morning that phrase has proved to be true in historical circumstances.

When Swindon’s result was announced at 12.55am – just the seventh area in the country to report – the Leave campaign had its first significant victory.

In the hours that followed, it became increasingly clear that once again the pollsters had got it wrong and the UK had voted to leave the European Union.

In Swindon, Leave took 61,745 of the 113,060 votes cast – giving them a victory of 54.7 per cent compared to 45.3 per cent for Remain.

In the immediate aftermath of the result, the national picture was far from clear.

Coun Tim Swinyard (Con - Lydiard and Freshbrook), who led the Vote Leave effort in Swindon, said: "We're really happy with the result, we're very pleased, but there is still a long way to go."

Leading Leave campaigner Drusilla Summers said: “To win by the margin we have is amazing, it has blown me away.

"I think this result is a good sign for the rest of the night.”

It proved to be a very good sign indeed - with the exception of London, Scotland and some other isolated areas, Leave was in for a dominant night.

Low turnout north of the border reduced the impact of the Remain wins there and even huge victories of almost 80 per cent in parts of London were not enough to close the gap.

Wales – expected to lean towards Remain because of the amount of EU funding that it attracts – voted in favour of Brexit.

The opinion polls were predicting a 52-48 per cent win for Remain at the start of the night, but in the end the numbers were reversed and 52 per cent of the country opted to Leave.

The days and weeks ahead will be uncertain as the country moves into unchartered territory.

The pound has already fallen to levels not seen since 1985 and all eyes will be on the stock exchange when it opens in London later this morning.

In Swindon, the focus will be on the big employers who have featured prominently during the campaign.

The reaction from motoring giants Honda and BMW and finance leader Nationwide will be key to putting concerns about instability at rest.

The 1,165 people employed at the UK Research Councils, bodies that take the lead on scientific, medical and social research in the UK from their Swindon HQ – much of it funded by the EU – will be in a state of uncertain apprehension.

But despite the predictable fear and unease, the 54.7 per cent of Swindon voters who chose to Leave will be waking up to a result that perhaps, even they, did not truly expect they would see.

After casting his vote to leave on Thursday morning, North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson said the referendum was “genuinely history in the making.”

Having made history, Swindon and the rest of the UK will now be watching and waiting to see what the future has in store.