Apathy among young voters could deliver a boost to those campaigning to quit the European Union, a poll has indicated.
A survey has suggested 53% of 18 to 34-year-olds want to stay in the EU, in comparison to 29% who want to leave.
But the same poll, published in The Observer, found only around half (52%) of young Britons are certainly going to vote in June's referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union.
Among Britons aged 55 and over, 81% are definitely going to vote on 23 June - and as 54% of this age group want to leave the trading bloc, there are fears the final result may be skewed in their favour.
Government strategists are privately admitting that the prospect of low turnout among young adults is a "central problem" for the Remain campaign, the newspaper reported.
Overall, the Opinium poll suggested the Leave campaign currently has a four-point lead over those who wish to Remain.
Pollster Adam Drummond told The Observer: "This shows how important turnout levels are going to be, particularly given the disparity between how likely the young and the old are to vote.
"Young people are much more pro-EU but much less likely to bother voting, meaning that a key element of Remain's coalition is looking flaky."
Meanwhile, the majority of UK-based aerospace, defence and security companies believe the UK should remain in the European Union, according to an industry body.
ADS Group has claimed 70% of its members think staying in the trading bloc would be better for their businesses - as it gives them access to free trade on the continent, as well as research and development funding which makes the UK more competitive on the world stage.
The industry body's members collectively employ 310,000 people in Britain and generate £31bn in exports each year, and several firms say an In vote gives the UK an ability to influence and shape EU regulations.
Airbus, one of the companies that ADS Group represents, said in February that its UK-based operations would be less competitive if the country opted to leave the EU in June's referendum.
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