Scottish independence results: how the night unfolded on Twitter

Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

When we arrived for the night, people on Twitter were still enjoying this sign outside an Edinburgh church / polling station.

For those planning on pulling an #indyrefallnighter, supplies were being prepared. In some cases, surreal and slightly troubling supplies.

'@geocham: My friend Lucy made Salmond en croute tonight. Genius. #indyref http://ift.tt/1r4UydF' @loveandgarbage How do?

- Pete Law (@TheRealPeteLaw) September 18, 2014

An early boob by CNN raised the spirits of those desperately trying to avoid similar mistakes.

Meanwhile, heavyweight pundits were poised to comment on the incoming votes.

Past midnight, and @SkyNews' panel of social media experts were apparently discussing tweets from made-up politicians.

Why is @SkyNews showing a tweet from the fictional MP from The Thick Of It? Cc: @PeterMannionMP #indyref http://ift.tt/1r4UydJ

- Ðaniel Ĵackȿoɳ (@Danoogie) September 18, 2014

Meanwhile, Guardian readers were settling in for the night. With a tipple.

And, with the first result still an hour away, we had to make our own fun.

Finally, we had a result. And it wasn't great for the Yes campaign.

But it was still early days, as @guardiannews pointed out.

With Orkney declared for No, our deputy national editor @pollycurtis kindly reminded us how much of the night was left to go.

With two more declared, things continued to look grim for Yes

Not that revellers in Glasgow seemed to mind too much.

Meanwhile in the US, some commentators didn't really see what was happening was much of a big deal.

Rumours about the whereabouts of Alex Salmond reached fever pitch. When he was finally spotted, it was in a car heading for the airport, his expression summing up the mood of the Yes campaign.

Dundee was the first council area to vote for an independent Scotland

Giving belated cheer to Yes supporters holed up in an Edinburgh casino.

But a deluge of disappointing results for independence supporters meant a Yes victory looked increasingly unlikely.

Things are coming FAST. Yes in huge, huge trouble now. It's all but over

- James Ball (@jamesrbuk) September 19, 2014

It was by now half four in the morning. And with Glasgow's vote imminent, and crucial to any lingering Yes hopes, the mood in Gordon Square was mixed.

And though Glasgow voted Yes, they didn't do so in enough numbers.

Which wasn't quite early enough for our 4:30am edition...

Jon Snow was succinct:

There will not be an independent Scotland

- Jon Snow (@jonsnowC4) September 19, 2014

And Yes supporters were downcast.

While Alex Salmond updated his Facebook.

And news sites called it officially.

Scotland says No to independence http://t.co/RFAokcyaya #ScotlandDecides #indyref http://t.co/82GjNcT4Tn

- Guardian news (@guardiannews) September 19, 2014