Scotland's election in pictures

It was a night of triumph for Labour in Scotland as the party retained 56 of the 72 seats north of the Border en route to another Westminster landslide.

Here we capture some of the images from the Scottish counts and the reactions of some of the country's leading political figures.

Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and his wife Gaynor join those hailing the Labour victory.

Bill Tynan was the first Scottish winner of the night when he held Hamilton South for Labour.

Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy seals his victory with a kiss for partner Sarah Gurling.

The worry tells on the face of Scottish Tory Leader David McLetchie as he watches the count in Edinburgh.

Malcolm Rifkind looks justifiably pensive before learning of his defeat in the key Tory target of Edinburgh Pentlands.

Jim Murphy scored a comprehensive victory over Tory candidate Raymond Robertson in Eastwood, another Conservative target.

Scottish Socialist Party Leader Tommy Sheridan said his party was now the country's fifth political force.

Scottish National Party Leader John Swinney saw his party retain five of its six seats.

Scottish leader Jim Wallace joins Shirley Williams to celebrate the Liberal Democrats' success.

Chancellor Gordon Brown celebrates Labour's victory and his own success in his Dunfermline East constituency.