British expats have lost their urgent Court of Appeal battle for the right to vote in the European referendum.

The court upheld a Government rule that says Britons who have lived in other EU countries for more than 15 years are not eligible to vote on June 23.

The appeal judges declared the rule did not unlawfully interfere with the right of expats to freedom of movement within the European Union.

The test case was brought by London-born war veteran Harry Shindler, 95, who has lived in Italy for 35 years, and solicitor Jacquelyn MacLennan, 54, from Inverness, who has lived in Brussels since 1987, specialising in EU competition and environmental law, and now a partner in the Brussels' office of a global law firm.

Lawyers for the pair say the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, has already agreed to hear the case next Tuesday, in a last-ditch attempt to win the vote.

Responding to the appeal court judgment, Mr Shindler said: "I am still waiting for the Government to tell us why British citizens in Europe can't vote in this referendum.

"The Government had agreed to scrap the 15-year rule before the Referendum Bill was passed, agreeing it was arbitrary and undemocratic."