EU referendum: Out campaign warns of ‘scam’ as fake news announcement says polls are open until Friday

A polling station sign sits nest to a flooded path at a polling station in East Hanningfield, Essex as torrential downpours and flooding have swamped parts of London and the South East CREDIT: NICK ANSELL

•  Ben Riley-Smith, political correspondent 

23 JUNE 2016 • 5:41PM

The official campaign to leave the European Union has warned its supporters not to be taken in by a “scam” saying they will be able to vote in the referendum on Friday.

The warning came after a fake image of BBC breaking news announcing the polls will be open for 48 hours begun to be circulated online.

“Due to the unusually high number of people expected to vote in the Referendum, voting will now take place over two days,” the fake message read.

“The Remain voters will be able to vote on Thursday 23rd June, while the Leave voters will be able to vote on Friday 24th June.

“This will make it much easier to count the votes and also give the Leave campaign the advantage of knowing how many votes are required to win.”

The image was shared by the official Vote Leave Twitter account to alert its supporters to the scam and ensure they are not duped into turnout out after the polls have shut.

It comes with heavy downpours affecting London and the South East on polling day, leading to suggestions turnout could be lower than expected.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves after casting his vote at a polling station in Islington, London CREDIT: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS

Polls published before the referendum suggested the race was on a knife edge after months of intense campaigning.

The result will be decided by which campaign can get out most supporters and how floating voters divide, according to polling experts.

Joe Twyman, head of political and social research at YouGov, said in a recent analysis: "When it comes to the question of European Union membership, those who wish to leave the EU are more likely to say they will vote than those who wish to stay.

Voters queue to enter a polling station at Trinity Church in Golders Green on June 23, 2016 in London, England CREDIT:MATT CARDY/GETTY IMAGES/MATT CARDY/GETTY IMAGES

"This means we can conclude, generally speaking at least, that a lower turnout come polling day should favour the Leave campaign."

But polling expert John Curtice has suggested the weather makes little difference to the number of people who cast their ballots.

He said: "All the evidence is that weather is irrelevant so unless we have a major flood or snowstorm somewhere that causes real disruption it is completely irrelevant to turnout."