THE borough's MPs have vowed to support residents' landmark decision to leave the European Union.

MP for Leigh Andy Burnham and MP for Bolton West – which includes Atherton – Chris Green will both work to help Britain flourish as an independent nation after a resounding 63.89 per cent of voters in the borough opted out of the EU in the historic referendum.

With a 69.2 per cent turnout at the polling stations yesterday, Thursday, 104,331 residents voted to leave the EU with just 58,942 voting to remain.

This helped the Brexit campaign to triumph with 52 per cent of the votes nationally.

Mr Green was firmly in the Brexit camp from the start while Mr Burnham, like Prime Minister David Cameron, was deeply opposed to breaking free from Europe.

Mr Cameron announced this morning, Friday, that he is stepping down as Prime Minister.

Mr Burnham said: “I completely understand the result and respect people’s decision and will support that in my work in Westminster.

“I feel like a lot of people in Westminster have not been listening to concerns for quite some time across all parties, so this decision is understandable.

“People from Leigh have had concerns for some time about immigration, as have people across the country.

“I would like to say to everyone who voted to leave that I have listened to what you are saying.

“I have been calling for a review of European Union free movement for some time and now it needs to happen.

“Regardless of how people voted in Leigh, everyone needs to respect other people’s votes to minimise any short term turbulence."

Mr Green said: “I am delighted with the result. Britain will be much better out of the EU.

“There has been an issue for a long time regarding immigration and people have vocalised those concerns.

“We are all now going to be part of an interesting time, especially taking into account the resignation of the Prime Minister. We will see a lot of change.

“I am now looking forward to the future and how we can better our relationships, not only with Europe but across the world. This decision has opened us up.

“By leaving the EU we can build better relationships with other countries, such as America and India.

“It is going to be a big change but in the long term we will have a more successful country because of the referendum result.”

Mr Burnham added that he is now worried that Boris Johnson will lead the government.

“Normally I would be pleased with the knowledge that Prime Minister David Cameron has resigned," he said.

"But in this case I am not. If it means Boris Johnson taking over then I am really not.

“The country needs stability so I do not understand David Cameron’s decision at this time.”