More than 60% of voters are expected to take part in Catalonia's independence referendum despite efforts to stop the vote, the region's vice president has said.

Oriol Junqueras has vowed Catalan citizens will be able to vote on Sunday "even if somebody takes voting stations by assault and tries to avoid something as natural as placing a voting slip in a ballot".

His remarks came despite a warning by the Spanish government that the controversial ballot will not go ahead, with Catalan officials told they will "face consequences" if they press ahead.

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Spain's Constitution says only the nation's government can call a referendum on sovereignty, and the vote had been suspended by the country's Constitutional Court.


Police forces acting on judges' orders have seized ballots and arrested regional officials in an unprecedented crackdown.

Opinion polls show Catalans are split on the issue of independence, but a large majority want to vote in a legitimate referendum to settle the matter.

A parade of farmers' tractors draped in pro-independence flags rolled into Barcelona on Friday in support of the referendum and drove slowly towards the regional government's headquarters.

Image: Farmers have vowed to protect polling stations

Catalonia's regional police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, have warned of the risk of the "disruption of public order" if they try to prevent people from casting ballots.

But Spain's interior ministry, which is co-ordinating the security operation for the vote, insists Catalan police must take action.

In case they resist, Madrid has sent thousands of extra police officers from other forces to Catalonia to help suppress the referendum it regards as illegal.

EU officials have rejected out a request from the Catalan authorities to help mediate the dispute with Madrid.

Image: Catalan officials show off the ballot boxes to be used in the disputed referendum

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani has described the dispute as "a Spanish problem in which we can do little. It's a problem of respecting Spanish laws that Spaniards have to resolve".

He said the EU was supporting the Spanish government because "on a legal level, Madrid is right".

The EU has warned that Catalonia will be ejected from the bloc if it declares independence - and it would need to apply to rejoin in a lengthy process that any member state can veto.

Catalan officials say they will declare independence within 48 hours after announcing the results if the Yes side wins.