The deadline to register to vote in this month’s EU referendum has been extended to midnight tonight.

The government announced yesterday that the deadline would be extended after thousands of people were met by an error message online when they tried to register before the original deadline on Tuesday.

The glitch, which was blamed on a last minute surge in demand, lasted from 10.15pm until after the midnight deadline.

It is estimated more than half a million people applied to register on Tuesday.

Senior politicians and campaigners, including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, called for the deadline to be extended, while Liberal Democrat leader and Remain campaigner Tim Farron labelled the glitch a “shambles”.

The Electoral Commission has once again urged people to sign up to take part in the historic vote on Thursday, June 23.  

To register visit gov.uk/register-to-vote.