'Use pens': the bizarre paranoia sweeping across Britain on Brexit vote day

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London: Paranoid Vote Leave voters were on Thursday warning of an MI5 plot to rig the UK's EU referendum decision and urging voters to use pens instead of pencils so their votes could not be rubbed out.

Britain's Electoral Commission reminded voters that using pencils was a safe way to vote, but said voters could bring their own pens if they wished.

However the East Northamptonshire Council muddied the waters when it warned voters a smudged inky ballot paper might be disqualified, and urged the use of pencils instead.

The council clarified its position several hours later and said using pens would be okay.

The plea for voters to use pens took off on social media on Thursday morning local time as Britons braved wet and stormy weather to cast their votes in one of the nation's most important decisions in decades.

But the movement was immediately ridiculed as a "tin foil hat" conspiracy.

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