NORTH Ayrshire has spoken and voted No to Scottish independence.

After over two years of hard-fought and tireless campaigning on both sides, North Ayrshire joined the majority of Scotland in voting for the country to remain part of the United Kingdom.

Politicians, campaigners and supporters for both Yes and No packed out the official count at St Matthew’s Academy where the official declaration was made just after 5am by Counting Officer Elma Murray.

She revealed that 47,072 people (49%) had voted Yes while 49,016 (51%) had voted No with an incredible overall turnout of 84.4%.

In addition, she revealed that 96,173 of the 113,923 people on the electoral roll voted and added that 85 of the ballots were rejected.

Ayrshire as a whole voted to remain part of the union with a result of 57.9 per cent and 52.8 per cent for South Ayrshire and East Ayrshire respectively.

In the months leading up to the referendum, many believed that the campaign had become too ill-tempered and divisive.

However, it was quite the opposite within the count as both sides were jovial and shared pleasantries before and after the result.

School children from across North Ayrshire - including pupils from Irvine Royal, Kilwinning and Greenwood Academies - also had the chance to soak up the atmosphere, with most of them voting for the first time.

But it was the Better Together campaigners who were celebrating - leaving their pro-independence opponents crestfallen.

Kilwinning Labour Councillor Joe Cullinane said: “Obviously we’re happy to win it but it’s clear to see that the people of Scotland want change."

And Cunninghame South MSP Margaret Burgess expressed her disappointment about the result and blamed the result in North Ayrshire on a coalition between Labour and the Conservatives.

She said: “In regards to North Ayrshire I’m obviously very disappointed and it’s clear that fear has won over hope.