MAINLAND Europeans living and working in York say they fear for their children's futures after the UK voted for Brexit.

Parents and traders who run businesses in the city and have watched their children grow up as UK citizens now fear for their future as the country prepares to leave the European Union following Thursday's historic referendum.

Polish, Romanian and Italian workers have paid thousands of pounds in tax but were not given the chance to vote on the future of a country they have worked in for decades.

Stefana Paval, 33, works at Cafe Express-O in Walmgate, and lives in the city with her husband, Vasile, 35, and daughter Vanesa, four.

The family arrived in York from Romania when Vanesa was seven-months-old and Stefana has spent the last four years working in cafes.

She said: "I'm a little bit scared because if the UK leaves I wonder what it will be like for foreigners like me.

"If restrictions are put on us and they stop us from working here it's going to be very hard.

"I'm scared for my daughter because she really likes it here and it's a good life for her.

"Hopefully we are going to be alright."

Anna, a 35-year-old Polish waitress in York, said many of her customers have been very upset at the referendum result and apologised for the outcome, but she was not surprised at the decision to leave.

She added: "I was sure they were going to vote out. You can read on the internet that people aren't happy about the situation with immigration.

"I don't think we will have to leave because a lot of Polish people have businesses here or houses and our kids are British citizens.

"My son is three-years-old and I'm worried about his future."

Sebastian Ignoto, the manager of Italian restaurant El Paradiso, in Walmgate, believes a lot of the Leave campaign was built on racism.

He added: "People have voted out for racism. England has fought against racism in the past and this result is wrong.

"I've been here for 16 years and have always paid tax and worked, and never asked for money from the Government system.

"The system shouldn't be giving money out to people who don't work. In Italy, if they never work they would live on the street."