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The people of Scotland have begun voting in a historic referendum on whether the country should become independent.
The turnout is expected to be high, with an overwhelming 97% of the electorate (over 4.2 million people) having registered to vote.
Voters will be asked to state "yes" or "no" to the question "Should Scotland be an independent country?"
The polling booths, which opened at 7am will remain open until 10pm. All those in a queue at 10pm will be allowed to cast their votes. The result is expected early on Friday morning, following the counting of votes which will take place in 32 of Scotland's local authorities.
Recent polls have put the referendum results on a knife edge, with the Yes campaign only two points behind despite pledges of ever increasing devolution and autonomy by all three main pro-unionist parties if Scotland votes no.
In an eleventh hour intervention the acclaimed Scottish tennis champion, Andy Murray, expressed his tacit support to the Yes campaign in a tweet posted late yesterday. Murray, who lives mainly in Surrey, will not be able to vote himself.
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Meanwhile the US President Barack Obama urged Scots to stay within the union, in a signed tweet posted yesterday.
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See related articles:
Westminster leaders sign pledge of more powers for Scots if they vote no (16 Sep 2014)
Unionists back more powers to Scotland as polls put independence campaign ahead (09 Sep 2014)
Scottish independence takes poll lead, Westminster pledges more devolution (07 Sep 2014)
SNP releases party blueprint for Scottish independence (26 Nov 2013)