With the campaign for Britain's referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union in its final stages, and the poll date fast approaching, European citizens expressed their views on what the implications for the rest of the Europe would be, should Britain choose an exit from the 28-nation economic bloc.

Some are concerned at the prospect of the bloc having to move on with one member less and fear the vote to leave could lead to the demise of the union itself.

Rome resident Walter Simonato said a "pretty important piece" of the EU would be lost, if Britain decides to leave.

"It will cause troubles to everyone remaining in the European Union," Simonato said.

Mojca Gaetz, a tourist guide from Slovenia who has lived in Vienna, Austria for 25 years argued that staying in the EU is "about solidarity".

She said she sees Britain's membership in the EU as a "decisive role" that can determine the future of the Union.

"I think they should better stay in the EU, because I think the EU is very sensitive at the moment, it has big problems," Gaetz said.

Her opinion is shared in Athens, Greece by a 58-year-old doctor, Alexandros Tzeferakos.

"For the rest of us Europeans, the presence of Britain in the EU is a strong pylon of support to the European construct," he said.

Rome resident Salvatore Feriani, however, believes Britain would be better off outside the EU and said that Italy should consider leaving the bloc.

"My opinion is that if you are in Europe you have to be under Germany so, it is not useful being part of it."

In the German capital Berlin, there was both ambivalence to the UK leaving and the opinion that it should stay in the grouping.

A 53-year-old portfolio manager from Oslo, Norway said whether Britain leaves or stays does not make a big difference to the economy.

"Being the second biggest economy of Europe, the European community will have to integrate the UK anyway."

Toma, a 66-year-old pensioner from Galati in Romania expressed his concern over the possible loss of jobs.

"There are many Romanian citizens that work in Great Britain and of course their income that would have been sent to our country would have to suffer," Toma said.

Romania joined the EU in 2007 but its citizens gained the right to work without restrictions across the European Union in 2014.

Transitional controls were imposed by some member states on nationals of the two poorest countries in the bloc, Romania and Bulgaria, limiting their rights to work and claim benefits for the first seven years of their membership in the EU.

Britain goes to the polls on 23 June to decide whether to leave or stay in the European Union.

With the campaign for Britain's referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union in its final stages, and the poll date fast approaching, European citizens expressed their views on what the implications for the rest of the Europe would be, should Britain choose an exit from the 28-nation economic bloc.

Some are concerned at the prospect of the bloc having to move on with one member less and fear the vote to leave could lead to the demise of the union itself.

Rome resident Walter Simonato said a "pretty important piece" of the EU would be lost, if Britain decides to leave.

"It will cause troubles to everyone remaining in the European Union," Simonato said.

Mojca Gaetz, a tourist guide from Slovenia who has lived in Vienna, Austria for 25 years argued that staying in the EU is "about solidarity".

She said she sees Britain's membership in the EU as a "decisive role" that can determine the future of the Union.

"I think they should better stay in the EU, because I think the EU is very sensitive at the moment, it has big problems," Gaetz said.

Her opinion is shared in Athens, Greece by a 58-year-old doctor, Alexandros Tzeferakos.

"For the rest of us Europeans, the presence of Britain in the EU is a strong pylon of support to the European construct," he said.

Rome resident Salvatore Feriani, however, believes Britain would be better off outside the EU and said that Italy should consider leaving the bloc.

"My opinion is that if you are in Europe you have to be under Germany so, it is not useful being part of it."

In the German capital Berlin, there was both ambivalence to the UK leaving and the opinion that it should stay in the grouping.

A 53-year-old portfolio manager from Oslo, Norway said whether Britain leaves or stays does not make a big difference to the economy.

"Being the second biggest economy of Europe, the European community will have to integrate the UK anyway."

Toma, a 66-year-old pensioner from Galati in Romania expressed his concern over the possible loss of jobs.

"There are many Romanian citizens that work in Great Britain and of course their income that would have been sent to our country would have to suffer," Toma said.

Romania joined the EU in 2007 but its citizens gained the right to work without restrictions across the European Union in 2014.

Transitional controls were imposed by some member states on nationals of the two poorest countries in the bloc, Romania and Bulgaria, limiting their rights to work and claim benefits for the first seven years of their membership in the EU.

Britain goes to the polls on 23 June to decide whether to leave or stay in the European Union.

Rome, Italy - 14 June 2016

1. Wide of Coliseum

2. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Vox pop - Antonietta Fornasiero, Rome resident:

"Certainly they (the Brits) are very convinced of their chances (to do well without the EU) and therefore in my opinion they will exit, but then there is the question of the economy. After all, there are a lot of countries in the rest of Europe so we will make it, while their economy could be affected a lot."

3. Mid of a couple walking

4. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Vox pop - Walter Simonato, Rome resident:

"It's a choice that belongs to each population, each country, I mean we are in a democracy. However, this (Brexit) will cause troubles to everyone remaining in the European Union and that makes sense because we'll lose a pretty important piece (of the EU)."

5. Mid of tourists in front of the Coliseum

6. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Vox pop - Salvatore Feriani, Rome resident:

"Why do they have to be under Germany when actually their economy could be leading Europe and make them grow as a country, as a nation. My opinion is that if you are in Europe you have to be under Germany so, it is not useful being part of it. Besides, we should also exit."

7. Exterior wide of John Cabot University of Rome

8. Wide of Franco Pavoncello, Professor of Political Science, President of John Cabot University walking

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Franco Pavoncello, Professor of Political Science, President of John Cabot University:

"Italians are starting to look at this with quite some worry, they are perplexed by the possibility of Britain moving out, there is always been an affinity between Italy and Britain also in terms of European discussions and I think there is a lot of concern also for what could happen to the euro, what could happen to the future of the union if Britain were to move out."

10. Wide of Coliseum

Vienna, Austria - 14 June 2016

11. Vienna opera house, people walking past

12. Sculpture of fountain in front of the opera house

13. People walking on street

14. SOUNDBITE (German) Vox pop - Mojca Gaetz, Vienna resident:

"I think they should better stay in the EU, because I think the EU is very sensitive at the moment, it has big problems. This is also about solidarity. I think whether they stay or not plays a decisive role. In my opinion the future doesn't look very positive. I have the feeling that the European Union is going to fall apart anyway at some point."

15. Newspaper cover with headline reading (German) "When die British leave"

16. Magazine cover reading (German): "Please don't go!"

17. SOUNDBITE (German) Vox pop - Erwin Kostolanski, Vienna resident:

"Actually I don't care at all."

18. Vienna Opera House

19. SOUNDBITE (German) Vox pop - Isolde Wetzer, Vienna resident:

"I would advise the British to stay. Otherwise all the work that was done during the past decade - well actually decades - would have been for nothing."

20. Various of Saint Stephen's cathedral

Oslo, Norway - 14 June 2016

21. People sunbathing in front of the Norwegian parliament

22. Norwegian flag

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Vox pop - Thomas Svendsen, 25-year-old teacher:

"I feel a bit sad about it. I think that Britain should stay, both for its own sake, but also for the sake of preserving the union."

24. Various of Karl Johans gate street in Oslo with the Royal Palace in background

25. Equestrian statute of King Charles III John

26. SOUNDBITE (English) Vox pop - Tore Vaeret, 53 year-old portfolio manager:

"I don't think it will make that big a difference because being the second biggest economy of Europe, the European community will have to integrate the UK anyway."

27. Various of fountain in central Oslo

Athens, Greece - 15 June 2016

28. Medium of the Parthenon

29. Wide of tourists with Acropolis on the background

30. SOUNDIBITE (Greek) Vox pop - Alexandros Tzeferakos, 58, doctor:

"(The Brexit referendum) Yes it is of concern to us (Greeks). But it is foremost a European problem and an internal matter for the British which, as people are smart, they are capable and are well informed about all European affairs and I think they have not only the knowledge but also the capability to judge what was beneficial and what was not beneficial from Europe. But for the rest of us Europeans the presence of Britain (in the EU) is a strong pylon of support to the European construct."

31. Close up of Hadrians Arch

32. Wide of street with cars passing in front of Hadrians Arch

Bucharest, Romania - 15 June 2016

33. Various of Romanian Atheneum Music hall in central Bucharest on Victoria avenue

34. SOUNDBITE (Romanian) Vox pop - Toma (no last name) 66 year-old pensioner from Galati:

"I'd say this will not be a good thing. I mean this would affect all the other countries in the Union. Both financially and regarding jobs."

35. Cutaway statue in Revolution Square central Bucharest

36. SOUNDBITE (Romanian) Vox pop - Toma (no last name) 66 year-old pensioner from Galati

"Because there are many Romanian citizens that work in Great Britain and of course their income that would have been sent to our country would have to suffer."

37. Various of Romanian Houses of the Parliament on Unirii avenue in central Bucharest

Berlin - 16 June 2016

38. Pariser Platz and Brandenburg Gate

39. Tourists at Pariser Platz

40. SOUNDBITE (German) Vox pop - Andreas Sasse ,57, Potsdam resident:

"If the British think that it is in their favour to leave the European Union then they have to take that road."

41. Pariser Platz with Brandenburg Gate

42. Horse and carriage

43. SOUNDBITE (German) Bernd Leitenberger, 48, Frankfurt area resident:

"I'm not in support of a Brexit. I think it would be better if the UK remains in the EU."

44. Pariser Platz and Brandenburg Gate

The Houses of Parliament - an iconic London site that attracts visitors from all over the world.

Tourism is now worth 22.1 billion pounds (32 billion US dollars) annually to the UK, according to Visit Britain, Britain's national tourism agency.

Visit Britain also said that last year there were 36.1 million tourist visits, with 67 percent from the European Union.

On 23 June, the UK will vote in a referendum whether to stay in or out of the EU and many in the tourist industry are concerned that a possible leave vote will jeopardise the European holiday market.

One of those is Kyle Haughton, managing director of City Cruises.

His cruise ships carry 6 million passengers a year - in the height of summer 60 percent are from abroad, the majority from the EU.

Of the 240 staff that he employs, 50 percent are from outside the UK, mostly from the EU.

"Any change or decline in passengers coming into the country is going to affect our business quite lot and there are reports that people in Germany, Italy and France are less likely to come to the UK if we leave the EU than if we stay."

His fears are backed up by UK Inbound, which represents 360 tourist businesses.

Deidre Wells, chief executive of UKinbound has called leaving the EU "economic suicide."

"Why would you remove yourself from a market that provides two thirds of our business for our members," she said.

Tourists had mixed views about a UK "brexit".

Marco Ghiribelli, an Italian tourist, said he thought the UK would be economically better outside.

"It's not economically convenient for the UK to stay in the EU. Brexit makes sense economically as the UK economy is stronger than most of the EU countries."

Others such as Babette Pascalev, a tourist from Germany, said: "I think it is hard now because the idea is to get Europe together not apart."

But others say a Brexit would not make any difference to the tourism business.

They say nothing will change.

Alexander Goransson, travel analyst at Euromonitor International believes the expected drop in sterling following a brexit vote would attract tourists due to an increased spending power.

"In the short term I would expect to see a depreciation of the pound which will have both a positive and negative impact on tourism. UK tourists would be less likely to travel abroad and stay at home, whereas on the other hand the UK would actually become a more attractive destination for inbound tourists as prices would be relatively cheaper."

But most people in the tourist industry are hoping for a remain vote on June 23.

The Houses of Parliament - an iconic London site that attracts visitors from all over the world.

Tourism is now worth 22.1 billion pounds (32 billion US dollars) annually to the UK, according to Visit Britain, Britain's national tourism agency.

Visit Britain also said that last year there were 36.1 million tourist visits, with 67 percent from the European Union.

On 23 June, the UK will vote in a referendum whether to stay in or out of the EU and many in the tourist industry are concerned that a possible leave vote will jeopardise the European holiday market.

One of those is Kyle Haughton, managing director of City Cruises.

His cruise ships carry 6 million passengers a year - in the height of summer 60 percent are from abroad, the majority from the EU.

Of the 240 staff that he employs, 50 percent are from outside the UK, mostly from the EU.

"Any change or decline in passengers coming into the country is going to affect our business quite lot and there are reports that people in Germany, Italy and France are less likely to come to the UK if we leave the EU than if we stay."

His fears are backed up by UK Inbound, which represents 360 tourist businesses.

Deidre Wells, chief executive of UKinbound has called leaving the EU "economic suicide."

"Why would you remove yourself from a market that provides two thirds of our business for our members," she said.

Tourists had mixed views about a UK "brexit".

Marco Ghiribelli, an Italian tourist, said he thought the UK would be economically better outside.

"It's not economically convenient for the UK to stay in the EU. Brexit makes sense economically as the UK economy is stronger than most of the EU countries."

Others such as Babette Pascalev, a tourist from Germany, said: "I think it is hard now because the idea is to get Europe together not apart."

But others say a Brexit would not make any difference to the tourism business.

They say nothing will change.

Alexander Goransson, travel analyst at Euromonitor International believes the expected drop in sterling following a brexit vote would attract tourists due to an increased spending power.

"In the short term I would expect to see a depreciation of the pound which will have both a positive and negative impact on tourism. UK tourists would be less likely to travel abroad and stay at home, whereas on the other hand the UK would actually become a more attractive destination for inbound tourists as prices would be relatively cheaper."

But most people in the tourist industry are hoping for a remain vote on June 23.

London - 2 June 2016

1. Houses of Parliament seen from a river cruise boat

2. Woman taking picture of the Houses of Parliament

3. The London Eye seen from a river cruise boat

4. Part of the London Eye

5. Woman taking photo

6. People on board the river cruise boat

7. St Paul's Cathedral and other buildings

8. River cruise boat approaching Tower Bridge

9. Set up of Kyle Haughton, managing director of City Cruises

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Kyle Haughton, managing director of City Cruises:

"At City Cruises we carry 4 million passengers a year and over half of them come from overseas, the majority of which coming from EU countries, so any change or decline in passengers coming into the country is going to affect our business quite lot and there are reports that people in Germany, Italy and France are less likely to come to the UK if we leave the EU than if we stay."

London - 1 June 2016

11. Various of Deidre Wells, chief executive of UKinbound, at her desk

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Deidre Wells, chief executive of UKinbound:

"I've described it as economic suicide in the past. Why would you deliberately remove yourself from a market that provides two thirds of our business for our members."

London - 2 June 2016

13. People on board the river cruise boat with the Shard in the background

14. Set up of French tourist Kahina Berroua

15. SOUNDBITE (French) Kahina Berroua, French tourist:

"I will be sad. The UK has a lot of power in Europe so it won't be the same."

16. Various of tourists inside the river cruise boat

17. Set up of Marco Ghiribelli, Italian tourist

18. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Marco Ghiribelli, Italian tourist:

"It's not economically convenient for the UK to stay in the EU. Brexit makes sense economically as the UK economy is stronger than most of the EU countries."

19. SOUNDBITE (German) Babette Pascalev, tourist from Germany:

"I think it is hard now because the idea is to get Europe together not apart."

20. Houses of Parliament with open top tourist bus driving past

21. Union Jack flag on top of the Houses of Parliament

22. People on open top bus driving past the Houses of Parliament

23. People on bus

24. People on bus driving past flags

25. Various of Alexander Goransson, travel analyst at Euromonitor International, on laptop

26. SOUNDBITE Alexander Goransson, travel analyst at Euromonitor International:

"In the short term I would expect to see a depreciation of the pound which will have both a positive and negative impact on tourism. UK tourists would be less likely to travel abroad and stay at home, whereas on the other hand the UK would actually become a more attractive destination for inbound tourists as prices would be relatively cheaper."

27. People on open top bus

28. View of London black cabs and Union Jack flags

Fears of "Brexit" are stark among the inhabitants of Blacklion in the Republic of Ireland and Belcoo in Northern Ireland, UK - two border villages that could be further separated if the United Kingdom opts to leave the European Union.

Only a gurgling stream separates the two villages, but Ireland's soft border could become a hard fact of life again if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, the sovereignty-sharing bloc that has done much to blur the 95-year-old boundary.

Should a majority of British voters reject continued EU membership in the UK's June 23 referendum, Northern Ireland's nearly 500-kilometre (310-mile) frontier with the Irish Republic would become the only British land border with the 27-nation EU.

The closely intertwined residents of Belcoo in Northern Ireland and Blacklion barely 200 metres (218 yards) away in the republic would find themselves again in two diverging lands.

While some view that prospect as an opportunity, many more express dread at the thought.

Farmer Hugh Maguire, 60, whose Blacklion home rests barely inside the republic but whose nearby farm of sheep, cattle and hens lies in Northern Ireland, said he could not survive without EU subsidies.

Both communities are heavily dependent on EU funding. Agriculture is the top employer, and farms receive 329 euros (365 US dollars) per hectare of land from the EU's Single Farm Payment subsidy scheme in place since 2003, an annual payment exceeding 80,000 euros (90,000 US dollars) for Maguire's 241-hectare farm.

Few Northern Ireland farmers are confident that the British government, long a critic of EU farm subsidies, would maintain anything close to that level of state support.

Maguire estimates that EU payments provide two-thirds of his income while most of the rest requires open market access to livestock marts in the republic, where prices for spring lamb are stronger.

Behind the bar in 'Jack's Bar' in Belcoo in Northern Ireland, owner Paul Leonard and his son Stephen look likely to cancel each other's votes. The son favors staying in the EU, while the father is eyeing the exit.

Fears of "Brexit" are stark among the inhabitants of Blacklion in the Republic of Ireland and Belcoo in Northern Ireland, UK - two border villages that could be further separated if the United Kingdom opts to leave the European Union.

Only a gurgling stream separates the two villages, but Ireland's soft border could become a hard fact of life again if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, the sovereignty-sharing bloc that has done much to blur the 95-year-old boundary.

Should a majority of British voters reject continued EU membership in the UK's June 23 referendum, Northern Ireland's nearly 500-kilometre (310-mile) frontier with the Irish Republic would become the only British land border with the 27-nation EU.

The closely intertwined residents of Belcoo in Northern Ireland and Blacklion barely 200 metres (218 yards) away in the republic would find themselves again in two diverging lands.

While some view that prospect as an opportunity, many more express dread at the thought.

Farmer Hugh Maguire, 60, whose Blacklion home rests barely inside the republic but whose nearby farm of sheep, cattle and hens lies in Northern Ireland, said he could not survive without EU subsidies.

Both communities are heavily dependent on EU funding. Agriculture is the top employer, and farms receive 329 euros (365 US dollars) per hectare of land from the EU's Single Farm Payment subsidy scheme in place since 2003, an annual payment exceeding 80,000 euros (90,000 US dollars) for Maguire's 241-hectare farm.

Few Northern Ireland farmers are confident that the British government, long a critic of EU farm subsidies, would maintain anything close to that level of state support.

Maguire estimates that EU payments provide two-thirds of his income while most of the rest requires open market access to livestock marts in the republic, where prices for spring lamb are stronger.

Behind the bar in 'Jack's Bar' in Belcoo in Northern Ireland, owner Paul Leonard and his son Stephen look likely to cancel each other's votes. The son favors staying in the EU, while the father is eyeing the exit.

AP TELEVISION

Blacklion, Republic of Ireland - 24 May 2016

1. Farmer Hugh Maguire with a calf and cows on pasture

2. Close of calf

3. Sheep running on pasture

4. Maguire, pointing to horizon UPSOUND (English): "Right around the borderline of the mountain, right the way on, you can see parts of Southern Ireland."

5. Sheep grazing

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Hugh Maguire, farmer:

"Probably 70 percent of my income is off it, 65 to 70 percent is from the EU (European Union). We couldn't survive only for the subsidies. There is no way we could survive, especially on this land that we're farming."

7. Maguire leaving farm through gate

AP TELEVISION

Belcoo, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK) - 24 May 2016

8. Bridge leading from Belcoo, Northern Ireland (UK) to Blacklion, Republic of Ireland, with sign reading (English and Gaelic) "Welcome to County Cavan"

9. Close of sign reading (English and Gaelic) "Blacklion" with speed limit in kilometres per hour

10. Bridge connecting Belcoo, Northern Ireland (UK) and Blacklion, Republic of Ireland

AP TELEVISION

Blacklion, Republic of Ireland - 24 May 2016

11. Sign of "The Market House" tourist centre and gift shop

12. Tourist administrator Helena Corcoran talking to colleague in tourist centre

13. Leprechaun puppets for sale in tourist centre

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Helena Corcoran, tourist administrator and local resident:

"We've had so much tragedy and grief along the border area, that I just feel and hope that they will stay in. My fear is, I suppose, that this border will appear and will make everyday life difficult for everybody basically, because this is the main road from North to South, from Sligo, and we get a lot of traffic, a lot of tourists, and we've already suffered enough in this area, so we don't need to suffer anymore."

15. Mug for sale with images of Ireland and reading (English) "Greetings from Ireland"

AP TELEVISION

Blacklion, Republic of Ireland - 25 May 2016

16. Top shot of bridge connecting Blacklion, Republic of Ireland and Belcoo, Northern Ireland (UK)

17. SOUNDBITE (English) John Paul Feeley, Cavan County councilman:

"Europe, and the structural funding and the peace funding have been hugely important in terms of giving areas like this the leg-up that they need to reach or to get into step with the rest of the country and progress economically."

AP TELEVISION

Belcoo, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK) - 25 May 2016

18. Sign reading (English) Belcoo, with speed limit in miles per hour

19. Bartender Stephen Leonard carrying board out of pub "Jack's Bar"

20. Stephen Leonard serving guests inside pub

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Stephen Leonard, bartender:

"Behind the bar you hear both sides of the story, and you hear now a lot of things like there'll be borders back up, the police will be back out stopping and just all stuff like that, and I've never witnessed it, and I wouldn't like to witness it from what you've heard years ago."

22. Stephen Leonard talking to his father Paul Leonard

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Paul Leonard, self-employed pub owner:

"It probably would possibly enhance the economy again, maybe we'd be freer to be able to do things without the regulation of Europe, you know, so it would. At the end of the day, before the UK market ever went down to the EU, they have always had a very strong economy, they were always well able to survive. They have an identity of their own."

24. Paul Leonard pouring beer and handing glass to his son UPSOUND (English): "Hey Stephen, that's for you."

25. Stephen Leonard drinking beer in pub

26. Pan from river to bridge between Blacklion, Republic of Ireland and Belcoo, Northern Ireland (UK)

It's been 25 years since the Penallta Colliery fell silent: the river once black with soot is now green and nature has taken back its place in this valley in South Wales.

Eddie Cullen grew-up here in a family of miners and remembers the decline of the town and the sorrow at seeing the heart of his community torn away.

"Everyone was frightened when the pit shut," he says.

With dire poverty and high unemployment rates, South Wales has benefited from generous grants and financing schemes from the European Union to rejuvenate the area's economy.

Yet on 23 June - the day of the UK referendum - the region voted massively to leave the EU.

The modern highway connecting Brynmawr with other former coal-mining towns in the Valleys region of South Wales was partly funded by the European Union, replacing a three-lane road known for its many deadly accidents.

In Abbw Vale, where 62 percent voted out, EU funds have also been used to improve railway lines, open museums, schools and training centres built where the steel works once stood.

Paul Thomas, who voted 'remain', worries Brexit could jeopardise these achievements.

"There was going to be more development but we don't know what's going to happen now," he says.

But back in the old city centre retired truck driver John Thompson doesn't agree, saying that "there's been no benefit to this area at all"

"Leave" campaigners say many of the EU projects are gimmicky and haven't led to any tangible improvements for people.

Also, they consider the EU money as British money to begin with, since overall Britain contributes more money than it gets back from the EU.

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies, was one politician to go against the party's UK leader, Prime Minister David Cameron, and vote for Britain to quit the EU

Davies used the metaphor of an out-of-control car to describe the EU, saying that people used the referendum to effectively say "I want to get out, the way this car is driven, we're going to hit a brick wall."

But for one Welsh company, Brexit was the brick wall.

In Pontypridd, a town climbing up misty hillsides north of Cardiff, Jenny Hughes said her education consultancy firm lost three potential contracts the day after the referendum as European partners pulled out.

Even though Wales receives hundreds of millions of pounds annually in EU funding, more than half of the Welsh electorate voted for Britain to leave the EU.

Puzzling many analysts, the "leave" vote was strongest in deprived post-industrial areas that have arguably benefited the most from EU support.

"Wales might have shot itself in the foot," says Ed Poole, lecturer in politics at Cardiff University, explaining that Wales has been one of the biggest net beneficiaries of being in the European Union.

A study he co-authored before the vote estimated that Wales receives a net annual benefit of 245 million (British) pounds (327 million US dollars) from the EU budget, or about 79 pounds (105 US dollars) per head.

That compares with a net contribution of 151 pounds (201 US dollars) per head for all of the United Kingdom.

It's possible, Poole says, that some voters didn't fully understand the role of EU funds in supporting their communities - or chose to ignore it.

It's been 25 years since the Penallta Colliery fell silent: the river once black with soot is now green and nature has taken back its place in this valley in South Wales.

Eddie Cullen grew-up here in a family of miners and remembers the decline of the town and the sorrow at seeing the heart of his community torn away.

"Everyone was frightened when the pit shut," he says.

With dire poverty and high unemployment rates, South Wales has benefited from generous grants and financing schemes from the European Union to rejuvenate the area's economy.

Yet on 23 June - the day of the UK referendum - the region voted massively to leave the EU.

The modern highway connecting Brynmawr with other former coal-mining towns in the Valleys region of South Wales was partly funded by the European Union, replacing a three-lane road known for its many deadly accidents.

In Abbw Vale, where 62 percent voted out, EU funds have also been used to improve railway lines, open museums, schools and training centres built where the steel works once stood.

Paul Thomas, who voted 'remain', worries Brexit could jeopardise these achievements.

"There was going to be more development but we don't know what's going to happen now," he says.

But back in the old city centre retired truck driver John Thompson doesn't agree, saying that "there's been no benefit to this area at all"

"Leave" campaigners say many of the EU projects are gimmicky and haven't led to any tangible improvements for people.

Also, they consider the EU money as British money to begin with, since overall Britain contributes more money than it gets back from the EU.

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies, was one politician to go against the party's UK leader, Prime Minister David Cameron, and vote for Britain to quit the EU

Davies used the metaphor of an out-of-control car to describe the EU, saying that people used the referendum to effectively say "I want to get out, the way this car is driven, we're going to hit a brick wall."

But for one Welsh company, Brexit was the brick wall.

In Pontypridd, a town climbing up misty hillsides north of Cardiff, Jenny Hughes said her education consultancy firm lost three potential contracts the day after the referendum as European partners pulled out.

Even though Wales receives hundreds of millions of pounds annually in EU funding, more than half of the Welsh electorate voted for Britain to leave the EU.

Puzzling many analysts, the "leave" vote was strongest in deprived post-industrial areas that have arguably benefited the most from EU support.

"Wales might have shot itself in the foot," says Ed Poole, lecturer in politics at Cardiff University, explaining that Wales has been one of the biggest net beneficiaries of being in the European Union.

A study he co-authored before the vote estimated that Wales receives a net annual benefit of 245 million (British) pounds (327 million US dollars) from the EU budget, or about 79 pounds (105 US dollars) per head.

That compares with a net contribution of 151 pounds (201 US dollars) per head for all of the United Kingdom.

It's possible, Poole says, that some voters didn't fully understand the role of EU funds in supporting their communities - or chose to ignore it.

Hengoad - 29 June 2016

1. Various of abandoned coal mine

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eddie Cullen, excavator driver:

"At first, everybody was frightened when the pit (coal mine) shut, but life has got to go on and we've still done well. There has been a lot of unemployment in Wales, but we've just got to travel further for the work, like me."

3. Cutaway of dog

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eddie Cullen, excavator driver:

"Everybody has just had enough, you know. They want their identity back as a country, you know, rather than being run by people from outside the country."

5. Grafiti on abandoned coal mine reading (English) "Don't steal our heritage."

6. Various of abandoned coal mine

Near Brynmawr - 30 June 2016

7. Various of road sign indicating EU financing for the motorway

8. Traffic on motorway

Abbw Vale - 30 June 2016

9. Tilt down on piece of machinery from the old steel works that previously occupied site

10. Various of new college partially financed by the EU

11. Various of new recreational centre partially financed by the EU

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Paul Thomas, occupational therapist:

"My dad worked at the steelworks. He used to come home and tell us when we were kids that he'd have to use a push bike to go from one end of the factory to the other end of the factory. Sadly it's gone now, but with the EU funding we've got the leisure centre now, we've got the college, we've got the school, we've got the hospital. There was going to be more development here, but we don't know what's going to happen now."

Near Brynmawr - 30 June 2016

13. Various of the town

14. Street in centre of town with sign reading (English) "Vote Leave."

15. Close of Welsh flag

16. SOUNDBITE (English) John Thompson, retired truck driver:

"I would say no. We haven't seen no benefit to this area at all. They do leave us a road now as you know, you've seen the sign, the European sign on it, but what you've got to think about is: they don't give us nothing. It's our money, part of our money coming back to us. We've given them the money and they just send some back to us. They don't give us nothing really."

Cardiff - 29 June 2016

17. View over Cardiff Bay with National Theatre Wales in foreground

18. Close of sign reading (English and Welsh) "National Assembly for Wales."

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Conservative leader:

"Well, it's British money in the first place. It goes out there, and we leave 50 percent of that money out there and 50 percent comes back. So that's the narrative here. We are all for embracing cooperation with other countries, we are all for working as allies in national security and self-defence, but there comes a point where self-determination has to come into this as well."

20. Various of Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Conservative leader

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Conservative leader:

"Very often, these schemes will seem to be managed by elites and ultimately not delivering for the communities that were supposed to benefit, and so people actually used the opportunity of the referendum to say 'whoa, stop the car, I want to get out, the way this car is driven, we're going to hit a brick wall."

Pontypridd - 29 June 2016

22. Various of Jenny Hughes, co-founder of Pontydysgu, a Welsh educational research institute, looking at the company website

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Jenny Hughes, co-founder of Pontydysgu:

"So, all of a sudden, we personally can't tender for anymore, but more particularly, our partners or consortia that we work with are saying now, 'well, actually we don't want to work with you' - they do want to work with us but they don't feel they can because they don't know what's going to happen."

24. Hughes at her desk

Cardiff - 29 June 2016

25. Various of Ed Poole, lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Cardiff University, at his desk

26. SOUNDBITE (English) Ed Poole, lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Cardiff University:

"I would say that unfortunately, in the long term, Wales might have shot itself in the foot on an economic basis."

27. Cutaway

28. SOUNDBITE (English) Ed Poole, lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Cardiff University:

"It's not just the structural funds that benefit the poorest areas in Wales - that's to the tune of about 400 million (British) pounds (534 million US dollars) per year. It's also the agricultural policy, which is very specifically supporting small scale businesses, which is Wales' specialism because of the topography of Wales. It's about 260 million (pounds, 347 million US dollars) per year, and it's also access to the single market."

Merthyr Tydfil - 30 June 2016

29. Various of open-pit mine and surrounding landscape

In the sunny seaside resort city of Benidorm, which has a vibrant British community of around 3,500 people, British expats expressed their concerns about what a Brexit can mean for them, with work permits, health care and pensions among the top worries.

Their situation will be one of the things to be negotiated between the UK and the European Union in the coming months and years after Britain voted Thursday to leave the bloc.

The British expat community in Spain was split between those who could vote and those, like bar owner Chuck Daulson, who have lived away from Britain for longer than 15 years, disqualifying them from voting in the referendum.

He was concerned he would have to go back to Britain and lose all he's worked for in the 23 years he's lived and worked in Spain.

While being one of the largest communities of British people living abroad with around 300,000 officially registered as residents, Spain is a key holiday destination for British tourists.

The outcome of the vote was also a concern for Spaniards making a living off the tourism industry, which, in places like Benidorm, depends heavily on British travellers.

In the sunny seaside resort city of Benidorm, which has a vibrant British community of around 3,500 people, British expats expressed their concerns about what a Brexit can mean for them, with work permits, health care and pensions among the top worries.

Their situation will be one of the things to be negotiated between the UK and the European Union in the coming months and years after Britain voted Thursday to leave the bloc.

The British expat community in Spain was split between those who could vote and those, like bar owner Chuck Daulson, who have lived away from Britain for longer than 15 years, disqualifying them from voting in the referendum.

He was concerned he would have to go back to Britain and lose all he's worked for in the 23 years he's lived and worked in Spain.

While being one of the largest communities of British people living abroad with around 300,000 officially registered as residents, Spain is a key holiday destination for British tourists.

The outcome of the vote was also a concern for Spaniards making a living off the tourism industry, which, in places like Benidorm, depends heavily on British travellers.

Benidorm - June 24 2016

1. Various of beach in Benidorm

2. Various of tourists watching British Prime Minister David Cameron's resignation on TV in a bar

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Chuck Daulson, Englishman living in Spain for 23 years, 51-year-old bar owner:

"We're very scared because I've been here 23 years, I've got my house, my kids were born here, they've been to Spanish school, I've got a bar, I've got a lot to lose. If I go back to England, I've got nothing. No house. Nothing."

4. England flags hanging in the bar

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Chuck Daulson, Englishman living in Spain for 23 years, 51-year-old bar owner:

"We don't know how we're going to be now, we might have no pension, we might have no medical, we may have to sell our properties, we've lived here for a lot of years, we don't know how it's going to affect us anymore."

6. Various of Sarah, no last name given, serving customers in bar

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah, 28-year-old Londoner living in Benidorm for 3 years, waitress:

"I've got my mum to vote on my behalf for me, I voted 'in' obviously. If we leave the EU, then it's bad on us expats who live here, obviously we'll lose our medical care, we'll lose our right to work without a work permit. Me and my boyfriend, we've lived here for 3 years, we won't get a chance to get a mortgage or anything like that now."

8. Various of people watching the news on TV at a terrace bar

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Julianne, (no last name given), 75-year-old English tourist in Benidorm, retired:

"We want to control our borders and make our own decisions, and for my grandchildren I think it would be better that we're on our own."

10. Various of newspaper stand

11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Gemma, (no last name given), Benidorm native working in the tourism industry:

"We make a living out of foreign people, I think 80 percent of tourists coming here to Benidorm and all the coast around are English."

12. Shot of tourist post at the beach

13. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Gemma, (no last name given), Benidorm native working in the tourism industry:

"We think it can affect us a lot in our business, in the work that we do, so we're concerned about what can happen, and yes we're a little bit scared."

14. Various of Sterling vs Euro currency exchange sign being changed in the street

British residents in Spain were among those watching the EU referendum result closely on Thursday as the UK voted on whether to remain within or leave the European Union.

Spain has one of the largest communities of British people living abroad, with around 300-thousand Brits officially registered as residents.

It is also a key holiday destination for British tourists.

In the seaside resort city of Benidorn, which has a vibrant British community of around 3,500 people, Brits expressed their concerns on Thursday about what a 'Leave' vote would mean for local British residents and tourists, with a possible weaker pound being a key worry for some.

Most people were going out as usual and most clubs didn't broadcast the TV specials on the referendum, although early after polls closed in Britain some people were seen watching the results in at least a couple of bars in the area of Levante Beach.

The British expat community in Spain is split between those who can vote and those who have lived away from Britain for longer than fifteen years, disqualifying them from a say on whether the UK remains in union with their adopted country.

Many of them are afraid of the consequences of a potential Brexit for their status in Spain, which would depend on negotiations between the EU and the UK should the 'Leave' side triumph.

British residents in Spain were among those watching the EU referendum result closely on Thursday as the UK voted on whether to remain within or leave the European Union.

Spain has one of the largest communities of British people living abroad, with around 300-thousand Brits officially registered as residents.

It is also a key holiday destination for British tourists.

In the seaside resort city of Benidorn, which has a vibrant British community of around 3,500 people, Brits expressed their concerns on Thursday about what a 'Leave' vote would mean for local British residents and tourists, with a possible weaker pound being a key worry for some.

Most people were going out as usual and most clubs didn't broadcast the TV specials on the referendum, although early after polls closed in Britain some people were seen watching the results in at least a couple of bars in the area of Levante Beach.

The British expat community in Spain is split between those who can vote and those who have lived away from Britain for longer than fifteen years, disqualifying them from a say on whether the UK remains in union with their adopted country.

Many of them are afraid of the consequences of a potential Brexit for their status in Spain, which would depend on negotiations between the EU and the UK should the 'Leave' side triumph.

Benidorm - 23 June 2016

++NIGHT SHOTS++

1. Various of coast promenade in Benidorm

2. Close of Union Jack bunting

3. Various of nightclubs

4. Television screen showing news programme on EU Referendum

5. Louise Bell, 42-years-old, UK-born but has been living in Spain for 19 years, watching television programme on EU referendum

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Louise Bell, born in Nottingham but has been living in Spain for 19 years:

"I believe that it's not going to make much difference if we come out of the Euro (sic.). I think everything will stay more or less the same as it was 19 years ago; it's just that you would have to have a work permit to come over to Spain, which I think is more safer for the people travelling around, people with no papers will be more controlled. And my vote is out, because I'm English and I think I deserve, for my country, for my family, that they get the best from their own country."

7. Jim Lions and his wife, UK tourists, watching television coverage

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Jim Lions, 58-years-old, UK tourist in Benidorm:

"I have not voted because I've been here in Benidorm on holiday."

9. Close of Jim Lions

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Jim Lions, 58-years-old, UK tourist in Benidorm:

"I vote we stay in because it's good for a lot of British, could be a lot of problems if we go alone, it's good for companies, the company I work for we deal all over Europe, so it's very good for us."

11. Close of sign reading "Titanic Bar"

12. Bar customers having a drink and watching television coverage

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Denise Wood, 60-years-old, UK tourist:

"I voted by proxy before I came away, I voted to come out of the EU and I don't think that our country benefits from the EU, and I don't think that the politicians know what to do with the country."

14. Various of bars in Benidorm

British residents in Spain were among those watching the EU referendum result closely on Thursday as the UK voted whether to reamain a part of, or leave the European Union.

While one of the largest communities of British people living abroad with around 300,000 Brits officially registered as resident, Spain is also a key holiday destination for British tourists.

In the sunny seaside resort city of Benidorn, which has a vibrant British community of around 3,500 people, beachgoers expressed their concerns on Thursday about what a 'Leave' vote would mean for local British residents and tourists, with a possible weaker pound being a key worry for some.

The British expat community in Spain is split between those who can vote and those who have lived away from Britain for longer than fifteen years, disqualifying them from a say on whether the UK remains in union with their adopted country.

Many of them are afraid of the consequences of a potential Brexit for their status in Spain, which would depend on negotiations between the EU and the UK should the 'Leave' side triumph.

Some of the British people holidaying in Spain expressed their oppinion about the referendum.

British residents in Spain were among those watching the EU referendum result closely on Thursday as the UK voted whether to reamain a part of, or leave the European Union.

While one of the largest communities of British people living abroad with around 300,000 Brits officially registered as resident, Spain is also a key holiday destination for British tourists.

In the sunny seaside resort city of Benidorn, which has a vibrant British community of around 3,500 people, beachgoers expressed their concerns on Thursday about what a 'Leave' vote would mean for local British residents and tourists, with a possible weaker pound being a key worry for some.

The British expat community in Spain is split between those who can vote and those who have lived away from Britain for longer than fifteen years, disqualifying them from a say on whether the UK remains in union with their adopted country.

Many of them are afraid of the consequences of a potential Brexit for their status in Spain, which would depend on negotiations between the EU and the UK should the 'Leave' side triumph.

Some of the British people holidaying in Spain expressed their oppinion about the referendum.

Benidorm - 23 June 2016

1. Various of beach in Benidorm

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Karen Maining, 50-years-old, UK-born but has been living in Benidorm for 23 years, translator and teacher, cannot vote in the referendum:

"I'm unable to vote because I've lived here over the 10 year period, which makes me a permanent resident of Spain, but I'm obviously British born"

3. Beach

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Karen Maining, 50-years-old, UK-born but has been living in Benidorm for 23 years, translator and teacher, cannot vote in the referendum:

"I think a lot of people are very scared to leave; they'd like to leave but they're scared for the one reason that they live in Spain. I think the majority here that can vote would vote for in, because they're scared that they would have to leave. Again, that's a shame, because that's lack of information. You know, I don't think ... Spain does very well out of tourism, and I don't think in any instance would Spain want to lose the tourism that it has."

5. British tourists seated on a bar terrace

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald George, 71-years-old, Englishman traveling as tourist in Benidorm, voted 'Remain' via postal vote:

"If we leave the EU, I'm sure that the rate of Sterling against the Euro would … "Whooosh" (gesturing upwards with hands)…. It would explode, we couldn't afford to take our holidays in Europe anymore".

7. Various of Becky and her daughter playing on the beach

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Becky (no surname given), 25-years-old, from Leeds, housewife, voted 'Remain' via postal vote:

"I've postal-voted in for the sake of our country to be united and safe and welcoming to all".

9. Various of beach

10. Crowds drinking at bar

British voters are deciding in a June 23 referendum on whether or not to leave the 28-nation European Union bloc - a move being called a "Brexit" for short.

From the international banks in the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf to the traditional home of Britain's financial industry in the City of London and the hedge funds of Mayfair, bankers and money managers across the capital are watching the June 23 referendum on EU membership with trepidation.

Many in London, the most pro-EU place in Britain, fear a vote to leave would undermine London's position as the world's pre-eminent financial centre and damage an industry that underpins the British economy.

The London tourist industry is also concerned that a possible leave vote will jeopardise the European holiday market.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron is leading the remain campaign in the EU, while Boris Johnson, the former London mayor and Conservative Party rebel is leading the "leave" campaign with one eye on his political future as a possible prime minister.

British voters are deciding in a June 23 referendum on whether or not to leave the 28-nation European Union bloc - a move being called a "Brexit" for short.

From the international banks in the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf to the traditional home of Britain's financial industry in the City of London and the hedge funds of Mayfair, bankers and money managers across the capital are watching the June 23 referendum on EU membership with trepidation.

Many in London, the most pro-EU place in Britain, fear a vote to leave would undermine London's position as the world's pre-eminent financial centre and damage an industry that underpins the British economy.

The London tourist industry is also concerned that a possible leave vote will jeopardise the European holiday market.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron is leading the remain campaign in the EU, while Boris Johnson, the former London mayor and Conservative Party rebel is leading the "leave" campaign with one eye on his political future as a possible prime minister.

HD Rushes available in \\Source_Clips\News Rushes

London - 24 May 2016

++AERIALS++

1. London Eye in foreground, Big Ben in background, pull out to show Parliament

2. Big Ben

3. Wide of Houses of Parliament

4. Westminster Abbey

5. Wide of river with London Eye

6. London Eye from different angle

7. Boat going under Tower Bridge, London Assembly in Background

8. Tower of London

9. Boat on Thames

10. Shard building, HMS Belfast in background

11. Tilt up Shard, traffic on London Bridge

12. St Paul's Cathedral

13. Wide of City

14. Mid of Gherkin

15. Bank of England

16. Buckingham Palace

17. Close of flag on Palace, pull out

18. MI6 building

19. Tate Modern

20. Globe theatre

21. Cutty Sark

22. Wide of bend in Thames, Canary Wharf

23. Canary Wharf

24. Various of O2 Centre

25. Various of Olympic Park

Uxbridge - 24 May 2016

26. Various of green fields in Uxbridge