The independence referendum in North Ayrshire - 10 years on

On September 18, 2014, the nation went to the polls for the Scottish independence referendum.

Across North Ayrshire almost 100,000 local people put a small cross in a box to vote and decide whether the nation should become an independent country.

Elma Murray, returning officer for North Ayrshire, declared the official results shortly after 5am at St Matthew’s Academy in Saltcoats and the figures were met by cheering from the campaigners of the ‘No Thanks’ vote.

(Image: Newsquest)

Yes votes were 47,072 and No votes were 49,016, with 85 ballot papers being rejected.

A local turnout of 84.4 per cent was hailed by all political campaigners and activists.

A majority of 1,944 added up to a percentage of 48.95 for Yes and 50.97 for No.

But across the towns and villages in North Ayrshire's eight wards, the results were split fairly evenly. Four of these voted for a No vote and four voted Yes.

Kilwinning, Dalry and West Kilbride, Kilbirnie and Beith, and North Coast and Cumbrae all had majority verdicts for No.

Yes campaigners were left distraught (Image: Newsquest)

But Irvine West, Irvine East, Saltcoats and Stevenston, and Ardrossan and Arran opted to support independence, the last of which had just three votes between both sides.

Local No Thanks coordinator and Labour councillor Donald Reid said after the result: “I have known throughout that it would be tight and only by hard work have we got what we have today and you can see how tight it was.

“Obviously I am absolutely delighted that North Ayrshire has just shown its preference to No at such a level and tomorrow I hope everybody will get on with their lives and get back to normal.”

North Ayrshire Provost and SNP councillor Joan Sturgeon said: “Naturally I’m disappointed but we had a strong campaign with a lot of hard work from volunteers.

"We fought a good, clean campaign and obviously we’re gutted about the result but it’s clear to see from the result that people want change. The genie is out of the bottle that’s for sure.”

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond announced he would resign following after the result. Nicola Sturgeon, the daughter of North Ayrshire's Provost, would be elected in his place.

Counting underway in North Ayrshire (Image: Newsquest)

After the result, Katy Clark, Labour MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, said: “I am pleased and I think it was the right result, and it was obviously close. I think this decision has divided the nation, and divided North Ayrshire, and that is something we need to take forward.

“I thought it was going to be tight here, I was confident we would win but I knew it was going to be difficult, but it was a lot closer than anyone would have predicted two or three years ago.

Kenneth Gibson, SNP MSP for Cunninghame North said: “All in all, the Yes camp are deeply disappointed by the result and – for those of us in the SNP – the resignation of the First Minister is a further blow.

“However, we were heartened by the huge level of public engagement, high turnout and how close the result was in North Ayrshire, where we came within two per cent of winning.

“Many Yes supporters fear that the ‘Vow’ to deliver more powers will be reneged upon and an astonishing 21,464 people have joined the SNP in the last four days."

Both 16 and 17-year-olds were eligible to vote for the first time in Scotland and in North Ayrshire there were an estimated 3,450 who could register to vote - and 3,377 of them did so.

North Ayrshire was joined by South and East Ayrshire in backing the No Campaign, with clear margins in both of the neighbouring council areas.

Next week, we'll be talking to both No and Yes supporters about the vote - and what they think should come next for the nation.