Six EU nationals were incorrectly registered in Kingston as being able to vote in this month’s EU referendum.

The authority confirmed there had been two instances of EU nationals registering to vote as British citizens, and four instances in which computers had incorrectly marked people as eligible.

Only an update issued by the supplier of the borough’s electoral software on Wednesday enabled the council to find the four mistakenly marked EU nationals – who had all correctly stated their identity.

All six wrongly-registered residents have been identified and their ability to vote rescinded.

A Kingston Council spokeswoman said: “We take the utmost care in ensuring that voting is fair.

“Instances such as this are taken extremely seriously and we are working closely with, and under the guidance of, the Electoral Commission.

“There have been two reported incidents of EU nationals who have, whether purposefully or not, registered to vote as British citizens.

“On both occasions, we have amended their details and revoked their ability to vote at the EU referendum.

“We are confident that these issues have been resolved.”

Read more: Politics and a pint? JD Wetherspoon pubs print Brexit beer mats

UKIP leader Nigel Farage posted on social media that he had heard of several similar instances of EU citizens being issued polling cards across the country and that the reports “need looking at”.

Concerns were first raised after a Polish national living in Kingston wrote on a political blog that he had received a polling card on Tuesday.

Jakub Pawlowski, who said he has lived in the UK since 2006, registered to vote with Kingston Council in December for last month’s mayoral election.

When applying, he mistakenly indicated his nationality to be British and was issued with the polling card for the upcoming EU Referendum, he wrote.

Mr Pawlowski told the Guido Fawkes blog: “I recently bought a house and in December 2015, right after completion, filled the form to get registered on electoral roll.

“I could therefore vote in London mayoral elections this month, however recently I got a polling card for the upcoming referendum on EU membership.”

Council leader Cllr Kevin Davis told residents online that software “cannot catch out” those who fill out forms incorrectly but provide a legitimate national insurance number.

He added: “There is no way for a council to check nationality for this purpose. This is a national problem.”

Residents will take to the polls on Thursday, June 23, to vote on Britain’s membership of the European Union – the first time that Britons have been able to vote on the country’s relationship with Europe since 1975.

According to the latest online and telephone poll voters are leaning slightly towards Brexit, with the split just 52 to 48 per cent.

British, Irish, and qualifying Commonwealth citizens can vote in the referendum.

The final date for registration is midnight on Tuesday, June 7. Visit gov.uk/register-to-vote