Spain’s north-eastern region of Catalonia opened polling stations yesterday to hold an informal vote on independence that the central government has called illegal.

The regional government went ahead with the vote despite the Constitutional Court ordering its suspension on Tuesday after agreeing to hear the Madrid government’s challenge that the poll is unconstitutional.

“Despite the enormous impediments, we have been able to get out the ballot boxes and vote,” said regional president Artur Mas after voting in Barcelona.

Polling stations were staffed by more than 40,000 volunteers and results were not expected until this morning.

The ballot asks voters whether Catalonia should be a state and, if so, should it be independent.

Polls show that while the majority of Catalonia’s 7.5 million inhabitants want to vote on the issue, they are split down the middle on independence.

Mr Mas said that the ballot is symbolic and that anticipated regional elections will amount to a referendum on independence.