As polls open and voters make their final decisions, the leaders of Scotland's main political parties were making a final plea for support across the country.

Nicola Sturgeon optimistically said the "outlook for Scotland is sunny" during a campaign event yesterday, and said the vote could be a "watershed election".

She also warned voters in the rest of the country that "there is no reason to fear the SNP" and insisted her party would do anything to keep the Tories from re-entering Number 10.

Ms Sturgeon said: "I don't want David Cameron back into Number 10 and if there is an anti-Tory majority on Friday morning then I want that anti-Tory majority to come together to make sure that David Cameron is not back into Number 10.

"But then the SNP will use whatever influence Scotland gives us to make sure the Tories are replaced with something better and bolder and more progressive."

The SNP leader will be in London on Friday to mark VE day, sparking speculation she may be leading post-election negotiations.

When questioned, she said: "I'm in London regardless of the outcome on Friday because it is the VE Day commemorations.

"That is what I am doing on Friday, representing the Scottish Government, but for now it is over to the Scottish people and, indeed, people across the UK."

She added: "I have been at great pains in this campaign to say to people outside of Scotland that there is no reason to fear the SNP.

"You might not agree with us on everything, that is perfectly legitimate and understandable, but we want to send MPs to Westminster to play a positive and constructive role and to make Scotland's voice heard.

"I think this could be a watershed election but we will have to wait and see how people vote.

"This is an opportunity for Scotland and whether Scotland voted Yes or No in the referendum or have never voted SNP before, it is an opportunity to come together as a country and vote to make our voice heard at Westminster."

She said victory for the SNP was "within touching distance", after opinion polls suggested Labour is facing a wipe-out in its historic heartlands north of the border to be replaced by SNP MPs.

Ms Sturgeon added: "At the heart of this campaign lies this simple truth: the more seats the SNP wins tomorrow, the more power Scotland is going to have, and that is the prize that is now within our grasp.

"We are now within touching distance, if we continue to work hard today and tomorrow, of doing something the SNP has never done in our history - winning a Westminster election.

"If we do that, then the voice of Scotland is going to be heard more loudly at Westminster than it has ever been heard before.

"On Friday morning, whatever the outcome, all of us as politicians have a duty to respect that outcome and if voters across the UK decide not to give Ed Miliband or David Cameron a majority then they are saying that they want parties to work together.

"The SNP stands ready to work with others who want to see the Tories out of office."

Meanwhile Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy took a lesson in finger painting at a nursery in Inverclyde.

During his visit to the Enchanted Forest nursery in Greenock, he pushed the importance of getting rid of David Cameron and called on voters to help "build a fairer country" by voting for his party.

He was joined by the Inverclyde Labour candidate Iain McKenzie on his last full day of campaigning.

Mr Murphy said: "It's decision time. Does Scotland want to help get rid of David Cameron, to build a fairer country, abolish exploitative zero-hours contracts, increase the minimum wage, and end Tory austerity?

"There's only one way to do that. And that's to vote for Labour.

"You can gamble and get rid of Cameron with a vote for the SNP, you can guarantee on getting rid of him with a vote for Labour.

"We are determined to help make that happen and make sure Scotland is the fairest nation on earth."

Youngsters sang and made handprint pictures with the East Renfrewshire MP, who added: "This has been an enjoyable campaign in all sorts of different ways.

"OK, some people scream and shout and a nationalist rent-a-mob turn up and try and prevent us having a say sometimes, but this is a different type of noise and it's great fun."

hannah.rodger@eveningtimes.co.uk