Scottish Independence: Voting under way in referendum

Voters will answer "Yes" or "No" to the referendum question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

With 4,285,323 people - 97% of the electorate - registered to vote, it is expected to be the busiest day in Scottish electoral history.

Voters formed a queue outside the polling place in Portobello, Edinburgh, before voting began

Voters queue up in West Glasgow to answer the question: Should Scotland be an independent country?

These voters in the south of Edinburgh were among the first to have their say on Scotland's future

A voter at Peebles polling station was pleased to have made his mark

First-time voters have also been out in force, like this one at Peebles

Votes will be cast at 5,579 polling stations until 22:00 on Thursday. The result is expected on Friday morning.

Strict rules mean the BBC - in common with other broadcasters - is not allowed to report details of campaigning until after the polls close. 

A number of councils around the country have said polling stations are busy, with some seeing queues both ahead of the polls opening and throughout the morning. 

Stirling Council area counting officer Bob Jack said: "There were voters queuing at polling places across Stirling ahead of the polls opening at 7am. Since then, there has been a steady stream of voters and we have been very busy."