The Advertiser team – Henry Ainslie, editor; Jennifer Russell, reporter; and photographer Joe Mulgrew – travelled to Lochgilphead to cover the count live throughout the night on our website and social media. The atmosphere in the counting hall at Lochgilphead Joint Campus built as ballot boxes arrived via land, sea, and air.

It was a long night for the Advertiser team, local campaigners, as well as the rest of the country, who stayed awake to watch the results roll in.

The first ripple of excitement swept the count hall around midnight, when the press were invited to watch as the first helicopter arrived carrying ballot boxes from Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree.

The Advertiser joined reporters and cameramen from the BBC and STV at Lochgilphead Hospital’s helipad to await the arrival.

As the ballot boxes were off loaded from the helicopter into the van and then driven back to the school, a sense of nervous energy was palpable as councillors, officials and supporters from both camps waited for the count to begin.

Speaking to the Advertiser early on in the night, Argyll and Bute MP Alan Reid said he was quietly confident a no vote would come out on top.

He said: “The ballot boxes opened so far have shown the no vote in the lead.

“And the Helensburgh ballot boxes are sitting tantalising close and are waiting to be opened.

“I am quietly confident we will win, most people are tending to vote no but we are still a little apprehensive but from feed back we are confident Argyll and Bute will return a no vote.” Clackmannanshire was the first local authority to return its result – a no vote – which provided the first shock of the night. Yes Scotland campaigners had been hopeful of winning in the Wee County, and the disappointment was clear on the faces of some Yes supporters around the Lochgilphead count.

As more no verdicts leaked through to the supporters in the halls, the No camp became more vocal and remained within the hall to watch, whereas some Yes supporters, trailed off to fetch tea and coffee and stay away from the count area.

But Michael Russell, SNP MSP for Argyll and Bute, was remaining optimistic at the half way stage as he told the Advertiser ‘it was too early to tell’.

He added: “It is looking good in Oban and Cowal, but we are in for a long night.” Despite Dundee and West Dunbartonshire returning the first Yes results of the night, the mood in the hall had already shifted as the hope of a Yes victory dwindled.

Helensburgh and Lomond North councillor Maurice Corry, told the Advertiser: “It is positive, Dundee was a wider margin than we would have hoped for but we remain positive.

“Inverclyde was a big win (for No) which is good.” As the clock ticked on, the first significant Argyll and Bute announcement came with the turnout figure announced around 4.30pm – 63,516 –and the official counting began.

And the moment of truth arrived at 5.55am when presiding officer Sally Louden announced the result.

Addressing the hall, the counting officer said: “Argyll and Bute’s diverse geography means we have to consider the logistics of a major count very carefully. “We have a very experienced team who are well used to organising the transportation of ballot boxes by air, land and sea. The knowledge of our counting staff is backed up by careful planning and a well-established process.

“Everything went extremely smoothly despite the unique challenges involved in administering a count on this scale. I would like to thank everyone involved for ensuring that Argyll and Bute’s referendum count went so well.” Michael Russell MSP, spoke about Yes campaign’s defeat, he said: “I think this is a tale of two things, firstly the tremendous activity in politics.

And secondly that politics has changed completely. If people genuinely believe in change, people will have to work hard to achieve that change.

“Alex Salmond is the single most inspirational leader we have had. I am looking forward to seeing him after this, but I know some people will feel bruised.” Helensburgh councillor Aileen Morton said she was pleased Scotland as a whole – and in particular Helensburgh and Lomond – voted No.

She added: “It was great to be outside the polling station and see so many people turn-out – there was such a high turn-out.” Councillor Maurice Corry also praised the ‘brilliant’ high turn-out in Helensburgh and Lomond, as well as Argyll and Bute wide.

Speaking about the result, he added: “It was a very good result which was well deserved. We can now move on and build on that in Argyll and Bute turn-out and Helensburgh and Lomond turnout.