At Sharps Pixley, a gold showroom in London's smart Mayfair district, demand for bullion bars and coins is rising, with men and women of all ages buying up the safe-haven metal in case of a British exit from the European Union.

Bullion merchants Baird & Co attributed higher demand for gold this year to wider concerns about the economy rather than worries about Brexit. But that would change if the 'leave' vote prevails, it said.