Cambridge City Council have released figures that show that the majority of Cambridge said "yes" to AV despite its overwhelming national rejection.

Fighting against the tide of popular opinion, 54% of those that voted in Cambridge were in favour of replacing the current first-past-the-post system with one based on alternative voting.

Cambridge MP, Julian Huppert, had proven an outspoken supporter of a shift to AV and last night admitted he was "extremely disappointed" that it had be rejected by the rest of Britain.

The early announcement of Cambridge figures gave Huppert an initial optimism that was crushed by later news: an overwhelming national majority of 67.9% elected to stick with the current voting system.

Tom Belger, Press Officer of Cambridge University's Labour Club shared his dissatisfaction with Varsity:

"Personally, I am devastated by the AV defeat. We have wasted what may prove a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve a defective system, as well as to improve the fortunes of the centre-left.

"Those who campaigned and voted for reform in Cambridge should be proud of their efforts, and those who supported the 'No' campaign for the petty and fleeting satisfaction to be gained from punishing the Lib Dems should be ashamed of themselves."

Cambridge also fought national trends in its voting turnout with 48.4% taking time to cast a vote compared to the "higher than expected" national figure of 41%.

The "Yes" campaign in Cambridge received high-profile support from the likes of comedian, Eddie Izzard, who has reason to be pleased with his contribution to persuading the electorate.

Only 9 other voting areas opted for AV out of 431 that had released figures.