Abbey National shareholders have backed a proposed takeover by Spain's largest bank - but the firm's board faced criticism during yesterday's Extraordinary General Meeting.

At a fraught and lively gathering, in which the board was heckled, Abbey chairman Lord Burns declared the takeover by Banco Santander Central Hispano (BSCH) had been passed by shareholders.

But - although 94.6 per cent of shareholders voted positively based on the value of shares - only 64.8 per cent approved the deal when counting one vote per shareholder.

It suggested a revolt by Abbey's army of 1.7 million small shareholders. The majority of the 900-strong crowd at the Wembley Conference Centre in London applauded suggestions that the £9 billion deal should be blocked.

"We want Abbey National to stay in England, to be English and to serve us, the people," one shareholder said.

Another said Abbey had a "very special duty of care" to its small shareholders, many of whom received windfall shares when the organisation, which took over the Bradford-based National and Provincial, converted from a building society in 1989.

Lord Burns said he was satisfied the board had got a good price for Abbey and rejected claims that BSCH was not the right company to acquire the bank.

Investors attempted without success to adjourn the vote until other shareholders were informed of the meeting's proceedings.

A string of people also said they had come to the meeting intending to vote positively but had changed their minds.

One told the hall: "I've never been to an EGM which is as contentious as this."

The takeover will now have to secure approval by Spanish shareholders and City regulators before its expected completion next month.

The Abbey National Group Union, representing the firm's 2,300 staff in Bradford, said it would wait until the deal was completed to call for further talks with the new owners about where planned job cuts are to fall.