Celebrations for some – and gloom for others – as the European election results are counted up at Poole's Civic Centre

The pro-Brexit party won 611,742 votes across the region, 36.7 per cent of the vote.

In second place, the pro-second referendum and pro-Remain Liberal Democrats picked up 385,095 votes – a share of 23.1 per cent.

The Green Party was third with 302,364 votes, 18.1 per cent, while the Conservatives and Labour both suffered humiliating losses locally and nationally.

The region’s new MEPs are Ann Widdecombe (Brexit), Caroline Voaden (Lib Dem), James Glancy (Brexit), Molly Scott Cato (Green), Christina Jordan (Brexit) and Martin Horwood (Lib Dem).

Brexit Party candidate James Glancy said his party’s victory was “the third people’s vote we have had”.

“We are standing up for democracy in the UK,” he told the Echo.

“There was a very clear vote in 2016 to leave the EU, the manifestos of the two main parties pledged to leave.

“Now the Brexit Party, a party registered just six weeks ago, looks like it is going to win.

“This is a clear message to Westminster, we have to act together to deliver the result of the referendum.

He spoke of his “huge respect” for candidates from all other parties as he said campaigning “leaves you open to attack as I have been discovering”.

In her victory speech at the count at Poole Civic Centre, the Brexit Party’s Ann Widdecombe echoed leader Nigel Farage in demanding the party have a say in future Brexit negotiations with the EU.

“When we go to Brussels we will say, because of our showing in this election, we clearly speak for the people,” she said.

Liberal Democrat Caroline Voaden told the Echo: “We have had a bad few years, we were punished for the coalition, but I think our members and activists have worked hard at a local level right across Britain.

“We have been unequivocal in our message, we don’t want Brexit to happen, and people have heard that who are struggling to understand the Labour position on Brexit.

“The votes for the Liberal Democrats and Greens across the country show that millions of people don’t want Brexit.”

Molly Scott Cato was re-elected as MEP for the Green Party. The other incumbents standing again, Tory Ashley Fox and Labour’s Clare Moody, both lost their seats.

Looking at the picture across the continent Dr Scott Cato said it was “a great night to be Green”.

She told the Echo: “It will be great to be able to make a change on the environmental issues that people care about.

“I think there is a new level of environmental consciousness, particularly with climate change and with the problems we have got with the loss of species and wildlife in our countryside.

“It is going to be so exciting to be part of parliament and sit with the Green group there.”

The overall turnout for the South West region was 40.45 per cent compared with 37.04 in 2014. Turnout for the BCP Council area was 35.93 per cent. For the Dorset Council area it was 41.14 per cent. Turnout across the UK was just below 37 per cent.

Nationally Nigel Farage predicted general election success for his Brexit Party if the UK does not leave the EU on October 31. the party won roughly a third of the national vote.

The Tories won just three seats in England and Wales, down from 18 in 2014, the party’s worst performance for more than a century and a half.

Labour came in third place behind the Liberal Democrats, and lost London, down 11.3 per cent on 2014.

Foreign Secretary and Tory leadership hopeful Jeremy Hunt said the dire results for the Conservatives meant the party faced an “existential risk” unless it delivered Brexit.

Meanwhile two of Labour’s most senior figures - Emily Thornberry and Tom Watson - tore into the campaign fought by Jeremy Corbyn, claiming the party had lacked a clear message and should have backed another referendum.

Mr Corbyn said: “With the Conservatives disintegrating and unable to govern, and parliament deadlocked, this issue will have to go back to the people, whether through a general election or a public vote.”

In a sign that he could consider a shift in position, he added: “Over the coming days we will have conversations across our party and movement, and reflect on these results on both sides of the Brexit divide.”

Mr Farage hailed his party’s success as he was elected in the South East, saying: “There’s a huge message here, massive message here – the Labour and Conservative parties could learn a big lesson from tonight – though I don’t suppose that they actually will.”

In a message to the Westminster parties he added: “If we don’t leave on October 31 then the scores you have seen for the Brexit Party today will be repeated in a general election, and we are getting ready for it.”

After 10 of the 11 constituencies in England, Scotland and Wales had declared, the Brexit Party had 28 seats, overhauling the 24 MEPs that Mr Farage’s former party Ukip sent to the European Parliament in 2014.

The Lib Dems, who were reduced to just a single MEP in 2014, were on 15.