Flags fluttered outside Marie Ollive's house when her compatriots in Gibraltar voted overwhelmingly against closer links with Spain.

Flying the flag for Britain

Mrs Ollive, 75, was born in Gibraltar but has lived in England for about 40 years, after she met and was married to British soldier Ronald Ollive when he was stationed on the Rock.

She lives now in Banbury Road, Bicester, with her daughter and son-in-law Elaine and David Adams and their three daughters.

Mrs Ollive returned from a holiday with her sister a few days before a referendum called by the Gibraltarian government on the British Government's proposal for joint British/Spanish sovereignty.

She said: "Almost everyone was against this idea and feels betrayed by the British Government.

"We're very angry about it. When I was in Gibraltar there were many flags on houses and other buildings and even red, white a blue dresses for girls were on sale in the shops."

She asked if she would be able to vote in the poll last week but she was told she could not because a residential qualification was needed.

Mrs Ollive added: "Although I could not vote, my heart and soul was with the Gibraltarians."

Gibraltarians automatically have British nationality.