People in Scotland have voted on whether the country should stay in the UK or become an independent nation. The polls are now closed and the count is underway.
Polling stations opened at 7am and people had until 10pm to cast their ballot, with the result expected to be known by breakfast time tomorrow.
The scenes in Glasgow have been lively but friendly with many looking foward to a vote which may change the future of not just Scotland but the UK.
It's a lively but friendly atmosphere down in George Sq. People here say Scotland has changed regardless of result pic.twitter.com/FOSGfJBp8T
— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) September 18, 2014
"Here we, here we, here we f***ing go" #indyref https://t.co/OjQY2M5jwP
— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) September 18, 2014
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond was pictured outside Ritchie Hall polling station in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, two hours after polls opened.
Mr Salmond, leading the 'Yes' campaign, was joined by two first-time voters, Natasha McDonald (18) and Lea Pirie (28).
He gave both women a soft 'Yes' toy as a mascot for their vote and the trio stopped for pictures on their way into the polling station. Despite long days of campaigning, the First Minister said he managed to get a good rest on the eve of the vote.
Former UK Chancellor and leader of the 'Better Together' campaign Alistair Darling was photographed with his wife Maggie and 'No' campaigners in Edinburgh.
He was booed by some, but cheered by others, as he arrived at the polling station at the Church Hill Theatre in Edinburgh.
He told reporters: "It's been a long, hard two-and-a-half year campaign, passions have been aroused on both sides, and understandably so because we are talking about the biggest single decision that any of us will ever take in our lifetime."
Earlier, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrived at the polling station at North Queensferry Community Centre, Fife, to cast his vote.
He shook hands with 'No' campaign supporters, as well as one 'Yes' voter, who were waiting for him in the mist.
After casting her vote, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "I've just voted #Yes to Scotland becoming an independent country. What a wonderful feeling."
Elsewhere, queues formed outside polling stations across the country from early morning as turnout was expected to be as high as 90%. More than 2,600 schools, sports centres and local halls have opened their doors to voters.
Four million voters are being asked a simple question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?".
A 'Yes' vote at the end of a hard-fought campaign will bring an end to the Union of the United Kingdom that has stood for 307 years.
After the polls close tonight, counting of the votes takes place at 32 regional centres all over Scotland. Then, once each result is in, the numbers will be sent to the main counting centre in Edinburgh.
The earliest declarations, at around 2am on Friday, will include North Lanarkshire, Orkney, East Lothian and Perth and Kinross.
The latest, at 6am, is expected to be Aberdeen. Dundee is expected at 3am and Edinburgh and Glasgow at 5am.
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny says the government has discussed the implications of a 'Yes' and 'No' vote in the Scottish independence referendum.
Mr Kenny is declining to comment - saying that he does not want to pre-judge what decision the Scottish people will make in the vote.
However Mr Kenny says the Cabinet has held talks on what both eventualities would mean for Ireland.
Newstalk's Richard Chambers is outside a polling station in Edinburgh. He told Breakfast earlier that the result could come down to just a few thousand votes.
These people on the streets told us what they think.
