Scotland votes No: Scenes of joy and despair

There was joy and despair in Scotland in the early hours of Friday morning as a referendum on independence swung in favor of the No vote.

Results of the votes from around the country have shown resounding support for Scotland to stay part of the United Kingdom, with the No camp gaining 55.4 percent of the vote, against 44.6 percent in favor of independence. Scottish nationalist leader Alex Salmond has conceded defeat.

Pro-Union supporters celebrated following the announcement of referendum polling results during a 'Better Together' event in Glasgow, Scotland after all but one result from the historic referendum was declared.

Supporters at a Yes rally in George Square in Glasgow await the results of the referendum.

Clackmannanshire was the first to report at 1.30 a.m. U.K. time. The Fife result, at 06:08, meant that Scotland had officially rejected independence.

Voter turnout was extremely high at nearly 85 percent.

Tellers struggle with tiredness during the count for votes in the Scottish independence referendum at Ingleston Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland.

With a substantial turnout at the polling stations, results were not declared until the early hours of the morning, when the No camp conceded defeat. With the results in from all 32 council areas, the No side polled 2,001,926 votes to 1,617,989 for Yes, according to the BBC.

Better Together campaigners celebrated early poll results at a party in Glasgow, Scotland. Glasgow supported the Yes vote, with 53.5 percent in favor of independence, but other major cities such as Aberdeen and Edinburgh voted against.

In his losing speech, Scottish nationalist leader Alex Salmond demanded the U.K. government meet its promise of more powers for the country. "Scotland will expect these to be honored in rapid course," he said.

"Scotland has by a majority decided not at this stage to become an independent country. I accept that verdict of the people," Salmond told independence supporters in the Scottish capital Edinburgh.

Leaders of Britain's three main parties, shocked by the strong showing of the independence campaign in recent weeks, scrambled to offer Scots more devolved powers if they remained part of the United Kingdom.

The leader of the Better Together campaign, Alistair Darling, speaks to the press at the campaign headquarters at the Marriott Hotel in Glasgow, Scotland.

Darling said Scotland's rejection of independence from the United Kingdom was ''a momentous result''. Darling, a former U.K. finance minister, battled with Scottish nationalist leader Alex Salmond in televised debates and fought a vicious battle to remain in the union.

U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron gives a statement following the results of the Scottish referendum on independence outside 10 Downing Street in London, England.

Cameron said he was "delighted" at the result adding that it was time for the U.K. to come together and move forward.

He announced a new "balanced settlement" for Scotland which would involve draft legislation - to be ready by January - that could give the country more powers on tax, spending and welfare.

He also said that further devolution should be offered to Northern Ireland and Wales, and outlined that England could also expect to have more say on the laws that solely affect its citizens.