This is the moment police took the name of a pro-Brexit supporter who offered voters the use of her pen in case of fraud, after police had been called following a report of a disturbance outside the polling station.

Some Vote Leave campaigners have claimed that using the pencil usually found in polling stations is dangerous because their cross could be rubbed out and changed, even claiming MI5 are involved.

Jacqueline Jackson, who was outside a Winchester polling station, filmed the officer taking her details as she argued she was allowed to lend her pen to anyone entering.

Police have spoken to a Ukip supporter who was offering to lend a pen to voters in case of fraud - they then took her details

Concerns: A poll released this week revealed that many Leave campaigners fear that today's referendum is rigged against them - so many are bringing their own pens

She then tweeted the footage and said: 'Police came to Chichester polling station called by REMAIN side to stop me LENDING my PEN to all voters #fraud'.

Police said that an emergency call was made to police by a volunteer at the polling station at around 12.25pm on Thursday June 23 to a report of a disturbance and threatening behaviour.

Superintendent Ed De La Rue, who was in charge of the policing of polling stations across the county, said: 'There have been a lot of negative comments directed towards one of our PCSOs as a result of this video being posted online, which is unfair.

'An emergency call was made to police about threatening behaviour outside the polling station so we sent a PSCO to find out what was going on.

'As the video shows, the PCSO discussed the report of threatening and intimidating behaviour with the woman to establish the circumstances and was satisfied that no action was needed. She spoke with the woman in a polite and pleasant way and recorded her decision in her notebook, which is usual and lawful, and left.

'Having watched the video the PCSO handled things in a really professional manner.'

Many Ukip supporters used the hashtag 'usepens' to encourage others to refuse to use a pencil, although it has since been hijacked by Remain campaigners who are calling them conspiracy theorists.

A poll released this week revealed that many Leave campaigners fear that today's referendum is rigged against them.

A YouGov poll found 46 per cent of all Leave voters think it's 'probably true' that their vote will be altered. A third of Ukip voters feared that MI5 might be involved.

Lee Dyson outside Salters Lane Community Centre Polling Station in Stockton where he was giving out pens for voters to mark their referendum voting slips

The volunteer was wanting to make sure no votes could have been changed after being submitted at the polls

The Electoral Commission has been forced to reassure the public that using a pencil will not cost them their vote

The idea has been widely mocked, including by BBC star Professor Brian Cox who tweeted: 'I voted in pencil just in case MI5 need to change it later'.

The Electoral Commission has been forced to reassure the public that using a pencil will not cost them their vote.

A spokesman added that people are more than welcome to briong their own pens if they wish.

He said: 'By tradition, pencils are available in polling booths for voters to mark their ballot papers,' a spokesperson said. 'If a voter wishes to bring their own pen and use that, it's fine.'

#usepens: Twitter is full of messages urging people to vote with a pen after Leave campaigners said they were concerned their vote with a pencil could be rubbed out. This is one of many tweets lampooning the theory

Anxious: Many on the Leave side have spread the advice - as a poll found that many Leave supporters feared the referendum is rigged

'In regards to security, at the count there are statutory observers to make sure that they are carried out correctly. Campaigners are also invited to observe the counts taking place.'

Last year Scottish Nationalists who believed their referendum was rigged in favour of the 'No' campaign urged people to photograph their votes and covertly watch election officials.

The campaign, called Operation Scallop, has been widely shared across Facebook and Twitter because some SNP members fear their votes will be torn up, changed or not counted.

A poster was shared widely on Twitter in which users claimed votes could be rubbed out

Joke: BBC star Professor Brian Cox tweeted: 'I voted in pencil just in case MI5 need to change it later'.

Statement: The Electoral Commission has been forced to reassure the public that using a pencil will not cost them their vote

Organisers also say that supporters should vote in the last hour - between 9pm and 10pm - and then 'hang about outside' and 'take photos of anything suspicious' as the papers are loaded into vans.

They should then use their own transport to trail ballot boxes when they leave polling stations and follow them to the count and watch them being unloaded, it says.

A crib sheet says that when they vote they should watch who handles their vote after it is cast having also checked the paper has the correct markings.

It says: 'After voting hang about outside, ideally near the car park BUT do not act too suspicious, we want police to watch the polling stations not distracted by us'.

A frenzy ensued online as people warned others to use a pen. Others marked this polling station sign

But the fears were soon turned to mockery by others on Twitter who poked fun at the idea MI5 were involved

Others joked that people could not be too careful, encouraging those concerned to laminate their votes

The author then encourages people to photograph anything suspicious as the ballot boxes are moved into vans, adding that police 'cannot touch you' for doing so.

When the papers are all loaded the SNP supporter is encouraged to jump in their car and follow the convoy - but 'do not break any traffic laws if you decide to follow'.

The document says: 'Police do not have the resources to escort all ballot boxes, only we, the people have the available numbers'.

The author adds that the process will take individuals two hours but 'it will make it almost impossible to tamper with ballot boxes'.

Paperwork also suggests being 'polite and courteous' at all times to avoid police suspicion and if challenged they must 'comply with their legal requests without exception'.

In response to the incident in Winchester, a Sussex Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called to Durnford Close, Chichester at around 12.25pm on Thursday by a volunteer reporting a disturbance outside a polling station.

'A PCSO who was in the area went to the scene and spoke with a woman who was handing out pens.