EU referendum count is under way at Kirkwall Grammar School

The polls closed at 10pm, the ballot boxes are arriving at Kirkwall Grammar School and the count for the EU referendum is under way.

Once all the Orkney votes have been counted and doubtful ballot papers adjudicated, the counting officer, Alistair Buchan will relay the total to the Regional Counting Officer in Falkirk, who will authorise the declaration of the Orkney total.

Mr Alistair Buchan will then take to the stage and officially declare the Orkney result.

The Regional Counting Officer for Scotland will collate all the local totals into a regional total and submit this to the Chief Counting Officer in
Manchester for approval. Once this is given, the regional total will be declared.

If all goes to plan, it is hoped that the Orkney result will be announced in the early hours of Friday morning, with the UK-wide result expected around breakfast time.