MP Mel Stride has admitted that the UK now faces a ‘hugely challenging path’ as its exits Europe.

The Central Devon member, who had fought to stay in the European fold, said the Conservative Party would be working hard to steer the country through the uncertainty ahead.

And he paid tribute to outgoing PM David Cameron who is quitting the number ten job after failing to persuade Britain to stay where it was.

Mr Stride said: ‘David Cameron has served our country with distinction and should be proud of his achievements as our Prime Minister.

‘I respect the decision of the British people to leave the EU although, as I have always argued, leaving is going to represent a hugely challenging path.’

And he promised: ‘The Conservative Party will now elect a new leader in the coming months – and we will unite in continuing to deliver on our manifesto and to steer our country through the challenges ahead.’

Britain’s surprise departure from Europe delighted Newton Abbot MP and ‘leave’ supporter Anne Marie Morris.

She said the dramatic outcome of the referendum, with last-minute polls predicting a win for staying in, was a vote for UK independence.

‘It’s a great opportunity for the future of this country,’ she said in the wake of the Brexit victory.

‘I am delighted with the decision of the British people and the Teignbridge community to leave the European Union,’ she declared.

In Teignbridge, with a ‘huge’ turnout of just under 80 per cent, some 44,000 voted to quit while 37,000 opted to remain. The percentage split was 54-46, just above the national average of 52-48.

Torbay also voted to leave while South Hams bucked the trend with a slender majority wanting to stay in Europe.

Newton Abbot’s member reckoned David Cameron’s decision to quit over the next few months was the correct action to take.

She said: ‘David Cameron was a great leader and did much to improve the day-to-day lives of all of us.’

She added: ‘But he was right. He had given his heart and soul to a remain result - a vote he lost.

‘Resignation to make way for a new leader with a mandate vision and commitment to delivering an exit from the EU on the best possible terms for the United Kingdom was the right decision.

‘I am delighted we had such a high turnout in Teignbridge with many young people voting for the first time. There is no doubt this vote was – and is – the will of the people.’

On social media, punters expressed forthright views both for and against the final vote to leave.

Some said simply they were sad at leaving Europe while others looked forward to not being ‘ruled by faceless commissioners.’

Outspoken Trago Mills boss Bruce Robertson, and a supporter of the ‘leave’ lobby said: ‘We dared believe, and now it’s happened, the dawn of a new beginning for our once proud country. And not a moment too soon.

‘Cameron has resigned. The first imperative must be to appoint an entirely new pro-Brexit Cabinet, and only then to commence laying down the law for the terms of our withdrawal.’