EU poll results welcomed by Paul Nuttall MEP

MEP Paul Nuttall, UKIP deputy leader

A poll on the UK's membership of the EU has shown eight out of 10 in favour of leaving.

"This is great news though it does not surprise me as we know from speaking to people on the doorstep and on the streets that they are fed up to the back teeth with the EU," said UKIP deputy leader Paul Nuttall.

"This mini poll took place across three neighbouring parliamentary constituencies but I have no doubt that the result would be the same across the whole country.

"People have had enough of having to dance to the tune of Brussels and want our own government to make all the decisions affecting our day to day lives.

"They are also fed up with Tory 'cast iron' pledges that just get kicked into the long grass. Cameron is talking of a referendum by the end of 2017 but even many of his own MPs and party members don't have faith in him sticking to that.

"UKIP has always fought for our withdrawal from the European Union and put the subject on the political map. As this poll shows more and more people support our views and I have no doubt one day we will regain our freedom," said Mr Nuttall, North West MEP.

In the poll, which was organised by two Tory MPs and a prospective colleague, a total of 14,581 people voted, with 11,706 of them in favour of the UK leaving compared with 2,725 wanting to remain part of the EU.