Catalonia vote: 80% back independence – officials

An informal vote on independence for Catalonia has shown more than 80% in favour, the BBC reported, citing officials.

The provisional results followed a day of voting across the autonomous region in north-eastern Spain.

The non-binding vote went ahead after Spain's constitutional court ruled out a formal referendum.

Earlier, Catalan leader Artur Mas hailed the non-binding poll "a great success" that should pave the way for a formal referendum.

"We have earned the right to a referendum," he told cheering supporters.

"Once again Catalonia has shown that it wants to rule itself."

He added: "I ask the people in the world, I ask the media and I also ask the democratic governments in the world to help the Catalan people decide its political future."

Voters were asked two questions - whether they wanted Catalonia to be a state and whether they wanted that state to be independent.

Vice President Joana Ortega said that more than two million people had taken part in the "consultation of citizens" and that with almost all votes counted, 80.72% had answered yes to both questions.

Just over 10% voted yes for the first question and no for the second, he said, and about 4.5% voted no to both questions.