Two million Catalunya residents vote – a third of the region's population

It is not yet known whether the majority voted 'yes' or 'no', but the central government of Spain has already said it will not pay any attention to the results as the polling is 'not official' and is 'a farce' with 'no electoral census' and 'no proper State control'.

Despite considering the consultation 'invalid' and 'pointless', the central government has still been trying to stop it going ahead right up until the last minute.

Police were ordered to identify the volunteers manning the polling stations and 'who was responsible' for the election taking place, although Artur Mas, who cast his 'yes' vote, held up his hand and said he was the only person who could be held accountable for the consultation being held.

Judges refused to issue a court order forcing the polling stations to shut, as they were asked to do by centre-right party Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD).

Mas says attempts to stop what is little more than a non-binding public opinion poll are 'anti-democratic', but that he will continue to push for a full referendum.

As many as two-thirds of Catalunya's residents failed to vote, but yesterday was not the end of the story since, from today (Monday) for 15 days, postal votes will be accepted.

Although 450 riot police officers were on duty, no major disturbances were reported, but an envelope containing a white powder and a typed note claiming it was a 'lethally-toxic substance' which 'had no remedy' if anyone came into contact with it, as well as anti-independence messages, was placed in a ballot box in Barcelona.

The right-wing PP headquarters in Pontons (Barcelona province) where the council had refused to allow a polling station to open, was covered in graffiti in the early hours of yesterday morning, and five far-right activists starting a riot outside a polling station in Girona were arrested.

And the Pedraforca high school in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona province) which was due to be used as a polling station could not open as planned, since the headmistress – who did not agree with the consultation – refused to let the volunteers have the keys.

Instead, another premises in the La Florida neighbourhood of the same town was opened at the last minute to be used as a polling station.

Two others in the Horta-Guinardó neighbourhood of Barcelona had their locks sealed up with silicone, but the volunteers manning the ballot boxes managed to force them open in time for voting to start at 09.00hrs as planned.