EU referendum: How Twitter reacted to Brexit

As the country went to bed last night, there was an optimistic feeling that - at last - the referendum talk was nearly over. The City gambled on a Remain majority and sterling started soaring.

It came as a shock, then, to wake up this morning to the news the UK had voted to leave the European Union.

With the dawning of a new day, many people on Twitter didn't know whether to laugh or cry - or both.

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Here is a round-up of the best reactions on social media as the night unfolded:

Confidence in a Remain majority started slipping after the stroke of midnight.

As it became clear that Leave were on course for victory, some considered the historical precedent.

Some didn't want to believe it was real.

And those worried about false promises didn't have to wait too long as Nigel Farage took to ITV to admit it was a "mistake" for Leave to suggest the NHS will receive £350m a week.

The rest of the world wondered why we chose to burn ourselves.

Although some weren't quite sure what it was the UK had left.

Not everyone was so impressed with the Prime Minister's resignation.

Others noted the whiff of opportunism drifting across the Irish Sea.