Paddy Ashdown's hat becomes the unlikely star of election night after the former Lib Dem leader's misguided prediction

The headwear already has its own Twitter account

Paddy Ashdown speaks to Andrew Neil on the BBC about the exit poll on election night (BBC)

Panic is about the set in atop Lord Paddy Ashdown’s head this evening.

The former Liberal Democrat leader promised to “eat his hat” at exit poll predictions that the party could be reduced to just 10 MPs by the end of the evening.

“If this poll is correct I will publicly eat my hat on your programme,” he told the BBC's Andrew Neil.

“I have been offered ten hats on Twitter tonight, not all of them politely I have to to say.”

Of course, as the results started to flow and the Lib Dems lost more and more ground, his hat became increasingly anxious.

So much so, it’s since set up its own Twitter account.

Thankfully, current party leader Nick Clegg scraped to victory in Sheffield Hallam, following a tense evening.

“It is painfully clear that this has been a punishing night for the Liberal Democrats,” he said on the podium during his winner’s speech. He went on to imply he could possibly be set to resign as leader later this morning.