Police Scotland distributed thousands of officers whose leave has been cancelled in anticipation of 'more activity'

Former prime minister Gordon Brown spoke on behalf of Better Together, imploring electorate to 'have confidence'

Alex Salmond made emotional final speech to Yes voters describing vote as 'the opportunity of a lifetime'

Thousands of campaigners marched through centre of Edinburgh towards Scottish Parliament on eve of vote

It came as thousands of Yes and No supporters faced off in Glasgow's George Square with just hours before poll


As the campaign drums quietened for the last time, there was little left for activists on each side of the Scottish referendum debate to do except cast the all-important vote that has divided a nation with unprecedented ferocity.

But on the eve of the historic poll which could bring an end to the 307-year-old union, thousands of determined campaigners flooded Scotland's streets in a last-ditch effort to sway the estimated 350,000 undecided voters.

Amid fire-breathers, marchers and musicians, Yes campaigners were accused of threatening journalists covering the referendum with Sky News presenter Kay Burley rounding on a nationalist who had been trying to hit her cameraman live on air.

Tensions continued to bubble in the country's major cities late last night after SNP leader Alex Salmond made an emotional plea to the electorate, warning them not to pass up the 'opportunity of a lifetime'.

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Yes supporters at George Square, Glasgow, ahead of the Scottish independence referendum tomorrow which has sparked a landmark turnout in people registering to vote

Pro-union activists rally opposite of pro-independence supporters in Glasgow's George Square as thousands of police officers have been assigned to patrol the city

A wall of policemen control increasingly animated crowds of Yes voters as tensions flare in Glasgow and the rest of Scotland on the final day of campaigning

Police litter the crowds of campaigners in Glasgow's George Street as tensions continue to flare on the final night of campaigning before the historic vote

A policeman exchanges cross words with a pro-union campaigner carrying a Union Jack in Glasgow last night

The First Minister of Scotland last night told a roaring crowd: ' We meet not to celebrate, not to presume, not to pre-empt,' he told the roaring crowd.

'We are the underdogs in this campaign, as we always have been.

'The Westminster establishment will fling the kitchen sink and half the living room and probably most of the bedroom at us before the close of polls at 10pm tomorrow night

'This is our opportunity of a lifetime and we must seize it with both hands.'

With feelings approaching boiling point, campaigners have been accused of targeting reporters trying to cover the campaign with harassment and abuse.

It comes as half of all No voters said they have felt physically threatened by Yes supporters.

In a poll carried out for Buzzfeed by YouGov has found that almost half of No voters - 46 per cent - have felt personally threatened by nationalists.

Tensions have been running high between the media and many nationalists – with Yes supporters accusing journalists of biased coverage.

Ms Burley made her remark during a live broadcast from Aberdeen after she was repeatedly heckled as she broadcast a series of reports.

At one point, unaware her mic was live, she was clearly heard to call one campaigner 'a bit of a k**b'.

The presenter later claimed she made the remark after a Yes campaigner tried 'to hit' one of her cameramen with a stick.

She apologised for her language which was caught just as she was going on air after being heckled by Yes campaigners in the background.

She said in reply to a Twitter user who asked about the incident: 'no, someone who wanted to hit my cameraman with a stick. Not acceptable.'

It is the latest in several incidents involving Yes campaigners causing problems for journalists trying to cover the referendum.

One journalist has gone to the police after No supporters made threats against his family following a blog he had written.

The BBC has also stepped up its security measures as its staff face repeated accusations and threats.

Walls of police separate crowds in Glasgow's George Square as campaigners sit on the ground for what is to be the longest and most colourful night of campaigning so far

Thousands of campaigners flooded the square in Glasgow's city centre today for an all-day rally. While earlier in the day it appeared the majority of the crowd was made up by Yes voters, an increasing number of Better Together activists have joined the scene this evening

Police try to keep campaigners in the square peaceful as thousands line the streets and sit in the middle of the road on the eve of the vote

Police Scotland said it was preparing for tomorrow's vote with 'detailed plans' after it was reported all leave for officers was cancelled in anticipation of 'more activity'

Divided: A wall of police officers hold Better Together crowds back from Yes voters on a street leading on to the square next to Glasgow's Queen Street Station

A large presence of officers was visible at the rally throughout the day with more policemen and women patrolling the city centre tonight

Sky News presenter Kay Burley called a Yes campaigner a 'k**b' while live on air today

A man carrying a large Union Jack is flanked by a wall of Police Scotland officers in George Square on the most heightened day of campaigning so far

Unionists wave Union Jacks in Glasgow as thousands of voters of all ages turned out in support of each side of the debate this evening. In an unprecedented political move, 16-year-olds have been invited to take part in the historic vote

A Police Scotland officer stands in front of gathered pro-union voters dressed in Union Jacks and yielding 'I'm voting No' signs on the final night of campaigning

The referendum has sparked record numbers of voters registering to have their say on September 19 and caused unprecedented divide in Scotland

Yes campaigners sit in unity in Glasgow's George Square on Wednesday night ahead of the historic vote. A poll of polls suggests the No camp is slightly in the lead with 51 per cent of voters set to reject independence on Thursday

Campaigners of all ages turned out in Glasgow and in the rest of Scotland to show their support of Yes and No campaigns before polling stations are opened tomorrow

A fire-breather performs to the crowds of Yes campaigners in a packed George Square in Glasgow on the eve of the historic referendum

While voter numbers are expected to be significantly higher than in other Scottish elections at tomorrow's referendum, campaigners have been accused of intimidating or bullying those on the other side and indeed journalists trying to cover the political event

A Yes campaigner showcases a large tattoo of Scotland on his back as he protests in George Square, Glasgow, on the final day of campaigning

Thousands of voters marched through Edinburgh city centre tonight with this picture shared on Twitter showing crowds wearing Saltires in the Meadows. It is thought the campaigners will walk towards the Scottish Parliament

Nationalists marched to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Wednesday night after walking through the city centre with campaigners of all nationalities

A group of unionists with painted faces pose alongside Yes signs as thousands gather at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh

Jessica Mcatemney getting her face painted with Scottish Saltire flag

Thousands gathered in Glasgow's George Square on the final day before millions of Scots turn out to vote for or against independence from the United Kingdom

A sea of Saltires: An overwhelming majority of Yes campaigners out-sung Better Together voters in Glasgow's George Square on the day before the referendum

A pro-union activist dressed in a tartan hat and scarf joins Better Together campaigners in George Square this afternoon with less than 24 hours until the vote

A man shouts in the crowd with his hands punching the air as Yes campaigners gather in a last-ditch effort to drum up support before tomorrow's poll

A woman wearing a kilt with a tartan baseball cap in her hand dances and waves a flag while another Yes voter drapes herself in the Saltire for today's rally in Glasgow

Clashing: Voters on each side of the debate yield signs and flags in each other's faces amid thousands of campaigners who descended on the city centre today

Yes voter stand at the base of one of the statues in George Square as thousands chant for and against independence in the last rallies before tomorrow's vote

A Yes campaigner at a rally in the Meadows in Edinburgh (left) as hundreds prepare to march to Holyrood. A man in a blue morph suit at a separate rally (right)

Police stand in front of pro-union campaigners waving English flags and Union Jacks at the event in George Square. All leave has been cancelled for police officers in Scotland as the country prepares for one of the largest voter turnouts in its history

A view of a Better Together logo shining on to the base of Edinburgh Castle from the city's Princes Street with less than 24 hours to go until the vote

The Armadillo in Glasgow is lit up with a giant No Thanks logo from the other side of the Clyde on the eve of the referendum

Campaigners remained n George Square tonight after thousands turned out to the Glasgow landmark to show their support of Alex Salmond's Yes campaign

In Edinburgh a man waves a Saltire and Union Jack at the top of Arthur's Seat with Edinburgh Castle and the University campus in plain sight

A pro-independence campaign group called The Hills Have Ayes placed an enormous sign on the side of the Salisbury Crags in Edinburgh this afternoon

A different stretch of the Crags shows a giant Union Jack hanging on its cliff face on the final day of campaigning for and against independence

With the campaigning coming to an end, two men stand at the top of Arthur's Seat at sundown waving a Union Jack and a Saltire

Barcelona fans wave the Saltire alongside the flag symbolising Catalonia's independence before the Champions League Group F match between Barcelona and Apoel at Camp Nou

BBC journalist Nick Robinson (pictured here with Alex Salmond) has been targeted for abuse by nationalists

BBC Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark apologised on air after a Yes campaigner interrupted the show by shouting and swearing

Police presence outside a No Campaign rally eve of the poll for the Scottish Independence Referendum

The National Union of Journalists have criticised the intimidation reporters have faced in Scotland

Alex Salmond praised the march by nationalists on the BBC as 'joyous'

Gordon Brown today delivered the speech of the referendum campaign, urging voters to have the 'confidence' to say No to independence

A group of up to 1,000 protesters marched on the headquarters of BBC Scotland, accusing the Corporation of bias in its referendum coverage.

Anger has particularly focused on the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson, who clashed with Alex Salmond in a fiery interview last week.

According to the Guardian, BBC journalists have received ‘hate mail and personal attacks’.

And at a Yes rally in George Square, hundreds of nationalist sang abusive chants aimed at the broadcaster.

BBC Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark apologised on air after a Yes campaigner interrupted the show by shouting and swearing

Earlier this week, BBC Newsnight presenter Wark had to issue an on air apology after a live broadcast was interrupted by a heckler.

Ms Wark was presenting Newsnight from an outdoor studio in Dundee when her broadcast was interrupted by someone shouting and swearing.

POLICE SCOTLAND PREPARES FOR BIGGEST POLITICAL DAY IN COUNTRY'S HISTORY Police Scotland has indicated how it attempts to control protests and swelling crowds of ahead of tomorrow's vote as tensions between both sides of the debate continue to grow. Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: 'Our priority is to ensure public safety and security and facilitate a peaceful democratic process. 'As we approach the final stage of the Scottish independence referendum campaign, the service has once again geared up to respond to a period of increased activity, where the profile of Scotland will feature nationally and internationally. 'Detailed plans have been developed to ensure that we can respond appropriately to any issues that may arise. 'Where individuals do have concerns or wish to report a crime, I would urge them to come forward and report it through our 101 number where it will be dealt with appropriately.' Advertisement

The interruptions took place throughout the programme, first when the journalist was interviewing actor Brian Cox and later when she was on air with a panel of industry experts.

Ms Wark told viewers: ‘We apologise for the swearing, I’m afraid it’s beyond our control.’

ITN presenter Tom Brady has also complained about the behaviour of the Yes campaign towards journalists, writing that the bullying and intimidation he has been on the receiving end of is worse than he experienced when covering the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

He said: ‘My first major job as a correspondent was in Ireland in the early nineties and, despite the fact that there was a bitter war going on all round me that took many lives, I experienced virtually no personal hostility at all from anyone.

'They didn’t lob accusations of bias around every time you asked a question either.'

The National Union of Journalists have earlier criticised the intimidation reporters have faced in Scotland

The National Union of Journalists have said reporters must be allowed to cover the independence debate without intimidation.

Scottish organiser Paul Holleran said journalists in Edinburgh and Aberdeen had been ‘abused over the weekend when simply turning up to report on events organised by both sides’.

He added: ‘Robust debate is fine. Pointing out when journalists get their facts wrong is expected and welcomed.

‘But NUJ members believe in a free press, a fair media, with journalists allowed to do their jobs free of intimidation.’

Meanwhile, Gordon Brown today delivered the speech of the referendum campaign, urging voters to have the 'confidence' to say No to independence.

The former Prime Minister tore into Alex Salmond, insisting Scotland does not belong to him or any other politician, declaring: 'Scotland belongs to all of us.'

Speaking without notes, he urged anyone with doubts about the risks of separation to vote No to save the Union, adding: 'What we created together, let no nationalist split asunder.'

The speech could become seen as one of the defining moments of the campaign, and reignite questions about whether Mr Brown should have fronted the No campaign from the start.

It comes after a trainee surgeon launched a passionate defence of the NHS against threat posed by independence, saying she had been spurred into action by the ‘lies’ of Alex Salmond’s SNP.

In a highly-emotional speech at a rally in Glasgow, Vicki Greig, 28, told how her mother had only been able to walk her down the aisle when she tied the knot on Sunday thanks to the expert NHS care she received to treat breast cancer.

Miss Greig condemned SNP claims about the privatisation of the NHS by London were ‘dishonest, unethical and wrong’, and had been made while Mr Salmond was secretly planning £500million in in cuts if he wins independence.

Ballot boxes are carried to a waiting van as ballot boxes that will be used in the Scottish independence referendum