More comment is appearing on European websites expressing relief mixed with unease at the outcome, observes BBC Monitoring.

Commenting on the post-referendum scene, commentator Milan Vodicka says in Czech news website iDnes: "Now comes the British nightmare. It will be difficult to sleep in the same bed."

Vodicka says the EU was saved from an unpleasant chain of events. "Since 1990, twenty-five new countries have been created in the world, but Britain is a different kettle of fish… It embodies a kind of timeless strength, tradition and permanence. If this oak had also split apart, it would have provided separatists across Europe and the whole world with very strong encouragement."

Image source, Getty Images

The popular Bosnian news portal Klix.ba chooses as its front-page headline: "David Cameron after referendum: Yes vote would have broken my heart"

And an editorial on Hungarian news website Origo says: "The EU and Nato can relax."

Read a round up of international reaction here.

Labour MP Frank Field is urging the Labour leadership to come up with its own answer to the "English question" as soon as possible.

The former minister says Labour needs to be "ahead of the curve" and has given a warning that the party can't afford to drag its heels or be seen as "anti-English".

"If, by this weekend," he continues, "we're off the mark, saying that we'll bring forward our own proposals which satisfy equity requirements for England on the scale we're giving to Scotland, we could still appear as the proper representatives of England. If not, then I fear the future will be very difficult indeed."

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams says: "The people of Scotland engaged in an informed and respectful debate and have made their choice. This decision demonstrates that the people are sovereign and that change is possible.

"The union is no longer fixed, it is in the ownership of the people. It will now be up to the Westminster-based parties to make good on their promises of full fiscal and policy transfer to Scotland."

Jane: I was a No voter from the beginning, majority of Yes push their point too strong - this can have a negative effect.

Philip, Glasgow: Happy, relieved and proud, but ready to hold out a hand of brotherhood to Yes voters.

Kevin, Dundee: I'm very disappointed. Just shows you can win an election with a negative campaign of half truths and vague promises.

James, London: Some of the rhetoric coming out of the disappointed Yes camp is a bit frustrating. Is it impossible to believe that the majority made an informed decision not out of fear, or of being risk-averse, but because having weighed up the options in a considered way, it's what they actually wanted?

Despite losing, Yes has dominated the conversation across multiple platforms on social media throughout the campaign. Over the last seven days, #VoteYes has been used 39,000 times compared to 13,000 for #VoteNo.

Image source, Reuters

Philip Sim
Tayside and Central reporter, BBC Scotland

They spiked the fountains with bubble bath in anticipation of a party in what was dubbed Scotland's "Yes city", but this morning only a hardy few supporters of Scottish independence remained in Dundee's City Square.

Yes supporters passing by described the result as "rubbish", "depressing", and even "a dark day for Scotland", although many say they are proud to belong to a city that backed independence with a strong majority of 13,000.

A few days ago it was impossible to leave the square without a leaflet or a flyer from one campaign or the other, often from the canvassers buzzing around the Yes Scotland stall which had become a near-permanent installation.

And, while there's still the odd Yes badge in evidence, today the dreary weather reflects the flat feelings of many of the city's inhabitants.

There's little jubilation on show from No voters either, with people on both sides saying they just want to move on and see what additional powers might be transferred north from Westminster.

Alex, Broomhill: I feel cheated. All we wanted was a chance to have a more level playing field and away from the increasing gap between the have's and have not's. Don't like seeing children in extreme poverty or the existence of food banks.

Stephen, Blantyre: The issue being that Scotland is divided can change by continuing to make our voice heard, but not divided, instead united. We need to continue to keep the people's voice loud for changes that suit the people, which we are all united on, not necessarily what Westminster decide but what we decide. We can't leave it to politicians, we have seen and heard the power of people, we feel empowered because we are. Come on Scotland, don't stop now.

Trevor Douglas, Bonkle, North Lanarkshire: I'm having a UK party tonight, with a big Union Jack cake to celebrate. I felt sick all day yesterday and couldn't sleep last night with worry. So glad it's all over. Thank you silent majority.

Arthur: I feel resigned to the inevitable understanding that Scots are essentially risk-averse. I'm also concerned that this was a vote for the past rather than a vote for the future.

Norman Smith
BBC Assistant Political Editor

My sense is that Alex Salmond's position is safe - for now. If he had been pushed down to 40% or below that then I think it would be a very, very different situation.

Steve Bargeton, Deputy Editor, The Courier, tweets, external: Speculation growing about future of @AlexSalmond. Scheduled press conference being put back and back, we hear. #indyref

Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird tweets, external: The Scottish people have voted to remain within a strong United Kingdom. Canada welcomes this decision.

Times journalist David Aaronovitch, also on the Daily Politics show, says Scotland doesn't need a nationalist party any more.

"It almost certainly needs a realignment of its own politics so it can get on with the business of discussing what its own priorities are," he adds.

Giancarlo Rinaldi
South Scotland reporter, BBC Scotland news website

There had been optimism in the Yes camp that they could make a real fight of it in the south of Scotland but, in the end, the outcome was more one-sided than they had hoped.

The vote was almost two to one against Scottish independence with an impressively high turnout - in line with the rest of the country. Proximity to the border almost certainly played its part in a strong majority for No in both the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.

That close relationship with England was summed up by one voter I overheard leaving a polling station in Dumfries. "I cannae even understand why we're voting on this," he was telling a friend. "We've been friends with them for years."

Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson will speak at Stormont Castle at 12:30 - we'll bring you his reaction as soon as we have it.

Journalist Anne McElvoy tells the Daily Politics show it was a very good result for the No campaign when the momentum had seemed to be with the Yes camp.

She says two years ago most people thought the result would certainly be a No but "what has happened is that the authority that Mr Cameron had has been eaten away as this has gone along and now he has to regain that".

Mark Billingham: "Hearts and Mind". I am so pleased that minds won over hearts!

Colin Holce from Warrington, Cheshire: Seems like the winners today are the money markets who bet on the pound given the percentage swing. It amazes me how quickly this was all put together given that we are still waiting for our referendum on Europe.

Helen Edmunds: I was dreading the news this morning and reluctant to look at it. However, I have read that Scotland has rejected independence. I know there are many who will be disappointed but we are an island nation, we will retain our cultural and linguistic differences, but will be side by side united. More devolved power to each of our nations but there for each other. Thank you to the No voters.

Gary McAlonan: Well done Better Together. I am pro-independence for Scotland and must admit my disappointment at the outcome and the lost opportunity. But moving forward, I would now like to see all of the people in Scotland unite to build a better, fairer, more prosperous country. We must all make sure we don't let Westminster forget how close they came to losing this brilliant country. Keep them accountable now and forever.

See more of the result in maps.

There have been just under 60,000 tweets about the Referendum between 11am and 12pm. The figure is down 19% on the previous hour.

Top tweet , externalin the last hour is from The Economist. They tweeted a graph: "How Scotland voted, council by council." Retweeted nearly 1,000 times.

Quite a lot of photos , externalof The Queen are being shared. One in particular shows her Majesty being shown something on a computer screen with the tweet: "update my status: STILL QUEEN OF SCOTLAND" #indyref

You can join the conversation via #indyref, external, tweet @BBCPolitics, external or go to the BBC News page on Facebook, external.

Ken Banks
BBC Scotland North East reporter

In Aberdeen, many of the saltire flags which had been in evidence in the run-up to the count were no longer in evidence on Friday morning. The streets also seemed strangely quiet. One flag, however, could still be seen flying in Wallfield Place in the city's Rosemount area.

There were also still some "Yes" stickers on windows and lampposts.

The vast wealth associated with the North Sea oil and gas industry was one of the fiercest areas of debate during the referendum campaign.

So, it was perhaps ironic there were reports yesterday of offshore workers being unable to fly home to polling day to cast their vote because of weather issues.

However, the north east of Scotland delivered decisive "No" votes so it may have been academic whatever way any such votes would have been cast.

BBC World News presenter David Eades tweets, external: Bernard Jenkin MP (Con) tells me the end of the referendum is just start of a hugely contentious battle for all nations in the UK. #indyref

@rj_gallagher tweets, external: Post #indyref today in Glasgow, George Square:

Image source, Ryan Gallagher