A gambler has staked a record £200,000 that Scottish independence will be rejected in the referendum next year.

Bookies William Hill said the bet - the largest political gamble it has taken - would make a total profit of £36,666 if there is a No vote in September 2014.

"We have never taken a bigger bet than this on any political subject," said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"The man, in his late 50s, with a pronounced Scottish accent, and a stranger to staff, struck one bet of £30,000 at odds of 1/5, then returned to place another, of £70,000 at the same odds, before placing a third, of £100,000 at odds by now shortened to 1/6."

The bet was placed in Glasgow.

Polls suggest most people in Scotland will not back independence, but there are still 450 days to go before the vote.

In May, William Hill took a bet of £5,000 for a Yes vote at odds of 3/1.

The current odds are 1/6 for a vote against and 7/2 for independence.

An SNP spokesman said the gambler has wasted his money.

"This underlines that a No vote is the real gamble with Scotland's future - because it means more Tory governments the people of Scotland didn't vote for, more Westminster austerity and welfare cuts, and 50 more years of Trident nuclear weapons dumped on the Clyde," the party spokesman said.

"It's a shame this person has just wasted such a large amount of money - hopefully he can afford to lose it, because we are extremely confident it's going to be a Yes."