Nigel Farage received a rapturous reception as hundreds of Brexit supporters packed Clacton town centre earlier today.

The UKIP leader arrived at 11am on a purple battle bus and met a throng of cheering supporters eager to have a ‘selfie’ with him, receive an autograph or just shake his hand.

Mr Farage told the crowds he has spent much of the campaign in the North, notably in Labour areas, but he had “saved the best till last and Clacton was the best.”

The ‘Brexiteer’ was in town to launch a campaign poster- another with an immigration theme- but lacking the controversy of one last week that critics accused of being racist.

This latest banner highlighted the growing numbers of children unable to get their first choice of primary school.

The UKIP leader also faced a throng of national and international media, who probed him on issues as diverse as free trade, the economy, racism, jobs and housing.

He said the fight is “incredibly close” but the fact that ‘Brexiteers’ would “crawl over broken glass to vote” gave him confidence.

The UKIP leader also urged younger voters especially to see the Brexit vote as one of democracy and having control.

“It’s about confidence and belief that you are better at running your own lives,” he said.

The visit was also supported by many Clacton UKIP councillors, including Mary Newton.

“We were really privileged they decided to show the new poster in Clacton. We think we had a great turnout, probably the best turnout we have had, better than the by-election and general election,” she said.

Mrs Newton said she was keeping her fingers crossed for Referendum Day on Thursday, hoping for a Brexit Chancellor George Osborne and PM David Cameron think will lead to “Armageddon.”

“They must think we are too small to take care of ourselves when we used to have the world’s biggest empire. I find it quite sad that our own prime minister decries his own country,” she added.

John Wrigley, Clacton UKIP membership secretary, said of the visit: “It’s wonderful. It’s really cheered up Clacton. The turnout is better than expected. We didn’t know the joy that Nigel would bring and he’s brought the sunshine with him. It proves he’s a good impact on Britain,” he said.