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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Abbianca Makoni & John Shammas

People dance in the street to celebrate Brexit as UK leaves European Union

Brexit voters have danced in the streets in celebration to mark the UK leaving the European Union.

In Westminster a music system was set up on the back of a lorry on Parliament Street, with people dancing in a closed-off section of the road to music by Sir Tom Jones and Queen.

At 11pm on Friday night, Britain formally left the European Union - although the nature of the future relationship between the EU and the UK is still to be determined.

As one man walked through the crowd at the Westminster event with an EU flag draped over his shoulders, another man carrying the Union Flag shouted at him: "Go away loser."

Dozens of people gathered around the Sir Winston Churchill statue, while others rang bells and banged a drum attached to a modified cart called Little Ben.

The cart belongs to David and Nancy Waller, who travelled from Shropshire to take part in the Brexit Celebration.

Pro Brexit supporters gather ahead of the Brexit Day Celebration Party hosted by Leave Means Leave at Parliament Square (Getty Images)

Mr Waller, 59, said the cart cost about £500 to restore and build, thanks to a "Brexiteer" blacksmith who donated his services free.

He said the bell, which people have been ringing throughout the evening, was found in a salvage yard but was originally forged at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London.

Mr Waller said: "We have come here because we are great supporters of democracy. At one stage we thought it was all over, but it ain't now."

Among the crowds were a group of French nationals who said they were jealous of Britain.

A woman wrapped in an EU flag and a Welsh flag looks on during a candlelight vigil in support of remaining in the European Union in Cardiff (Getty Images)

Michelle, 54, who declined to give her last name said "France does not have the guts to do this."

Waving a Brexit banner she added: "We need to get out of the dictatorship. The EU is imposing its authority measures and policies and we need to get out."

France is full of conflict with riots every Saturday between the police and the people but the government are not doing anything, she added.

For some, it's the day they've been waiting for (Getty Images)

Asked if she supported Britain's choice to leave, she said: "Yes, I am so jealous and I am here 100% backing them."

Donna Jones said she believes Prime Minister Boris Johnson has "tried his best" and delivered "what's best for the country".

Guests dance during the Brexit party at Woolston Social Club in Warrington (Getty Images)

The 44-year-old from west London said she was there to "be part of history".

She added: "I think it's a good thing for Britain, I think we need to get our own laws back and I believe we have got the ability to do it.

Emotions were running high at the London event (Getty Images)

"It doesn't mean we're anti-Europe, it just means we want to be self-sufficient in a certain way."

Asked how she thinks EU nationals living in Britain would react, she said: "They might take it (Brexit) the wrong way because we have a certain group in England that is racist, they have got problems with the immigration but I don't want them to think we are leaving because of them.

Pro Brexit supporters gather, waiting to celebrate at 11pm - but the party has already started (Getty Images)

"We're leaving because of the laws and the trade but we're still their allies."

Logan Rossiter, 17, from the Plymouth Brexit Party, said the gathering was not a "political one" but a celebration of democracy.

"This is what the people voted for, 48% did vote Remain and we are not neglecting them but what we really want to do is unite the nation together under one banner of democracy," he said.

Speaking on Friday night Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledged there could be “bumps in the road” as the country enters a new era, but he insisted that Brexit can “unleash the full potential” of the UK.

Mr Johnson accepted there would be mixed feelings in a nation that remains deeply divided after years of bitter Brexit battles.

Speaking on Friday night Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledged there could be “bumps in the road” as the country enters a new era, but he insisted that Brexit can “unleash the full potential” of the UK (Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

“For many people this is an astonishing moment of hope, a moment they thought would never come,” he said.

“And there are many of course who feel a sense of anxiety and loss.”

The UK joined the then European Economic Community in 1973 but the 2016 referendum signalled the beginning of the process which resulted in Britain’s membership of the bloc coming to an end at 11pm on Friday.

Mr Johnson said his job was now to “bring this country together”.

“We want this to be the beginning of a new era of friendly cooperation between the EU and an energetic Britain, a Britain that is simultaneously a great European power and truly global in our range and ambitions,” he said.

“And whatever the bumps in the road ahead I know that we will succeed.”

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