FAMILIES of British embassy staff have been flown out of Venezuela as the country erupts in violence.

The Foreign Office has also instructed other Britons to considering leaving.

The unrest follows a vote on Sunday — boycotted by opposition parties — that gave president Nicolás Maduro’s ruling socialists nearly unlimited powers.

Two opposition leaders have been arrested in an apparent crackdown.

The vote, for a new constitutional assembly, came after four months of protests against Mr Maduro’s government that have seen 120 people killed.

Plunging oil prices and corruption have resulted in food and medicine shortages.

Opponents urged people to take to the streets today to prevent the new assembly being sworn-in. Opposition leader Freddy Guevara said: ‘Now is the time for action, not words.’

The Foreign Office said: ‘All dependants of British Embassy staff have been withdrawn. You should consider leaving the country by normal commercial means. If the political situation worsens, the British embassy may be limited in the assistance that it can provide.’

The US has imposed financial sanctions on Mr Maduro. But the Venezuelan president went on TV to insist the sanctions ‘don’t intimidate me’.

Meanwhile, a tech company that provided voting machines for Sunday’s poll said turnout was overstated by ‘at least 1million votes’.

Smartmatic’s chief executive Antonio Mugica said he could not ‘endorse’ the outcome as officials ignored his company’s results. An exit poll said turnout was less than half that reported by the regime.

Oil workers loyal to Mr Maduro took to the streets yesterday to show support.