Local government figures were polarised yesterday following the referendum results.

Some expressed disappointment and anxiety, saying that early signs pointed to an ominous future for Britain.

From the Leave camp, voices were more optimistic, suggesting that shaky market responses would stabilise in time.

Cllr Jeff Cant, campaign manager for the Leave group in Weymouth and Portland, claimed the drop in the value of the pound could be a good thing for tourism this summer.

He said: “What I do think might happen is that whilst the pound drops in value against the euro, it will encourage people to spend more money in the UK. I’m positive that we will have a good tourist season.

“This isn’t really a time for triumphant crowing from anyone – it was a close vote.

“One of the hopes that I have is that at some point in the future, a form of European cooperation will emerge that’s better adapted.

“I’m sure we’ll all come back together at some point in one way or another.”

Leader of the Labour group on the borough council Cllr Colin Huckle said he thought the departure from the EU would be ‘disastrous’ for the borough’s future prospects.

He said: “It’s a disappointing result and I think the people of Weymouth and Portland will suffer because of it.

“We are witnessing a meltdown in the value of the pound and the stock exchange that will have consequences on our long term prospects and jobs in this area.

“We did have a degree of certainty but now we’re back to uncertainty again.”

Borough mayor Richard Kosior said: “It’s democracy in action. It was put to the people, the people voted and action will be taken as they want.”

He thought the turnout for voters in the area had been high and hoped it would encourage more people to vote in future elections as it showed that it could make a difference in politics and ‘did mean something.’

The mayor sent a message to reassure people, adding: “Hold tight. What we don’t want is knee-jerk reactions and to let it run its course. 

“I think it’s all we can do. It’s out of the hands of residents now, they have made their decisions, that’s it.”