The agony and ecstasy of the Scottish independence referendum

The first concrete indication that such efforts would be in vain came out of Clackmannanshire at 01:30.

Eva Comrie, a lawyer who campaigned for Yes, had been “absolutely certain” of victory in her local area. Instead, it was won by No with 55% of the vote.

“It was incredibly depressing, embarrassing, shameful,” says Eva.

“It was one of the most major disappointments of my whole life.”

Agony for some, ecstasy for others.

Cat, who spent the night at the Edinburgh count, says: “You could sense it from the Yes campaigners – from that moment on they knew what the result was likely to be.”

The No side then secured thumping, if unsurprising, wins in Orkney and Shetland, before a narrow victory in the Western Isles.

Louise and her friends, filled with “nervous excitement”, gathered in Shetland to watch the results.

She called it a night early after things started to go “badly wrong”.

“I was thinking I would sit up all night but I remember thinking actually I can’t face this,” she says.