After the violent suppression of the illegal Catalan independence referendum last week, the region's 7.5 million inhabitants are pondering what comes next for the region.

Spanish police were filmed confiscating ballot boxes, firing rubber bullets and beating those protecting polling stations on Sunday.

Despite the attempt to stop the referendum, both in the courts and on the streets, the regional Catalan government claims 42% of electors cast a ballot paper in the poll.

Of those who voted, almost 92% marked their paper in favour of independence.

Now there is talk of the Catalan parliament unilaterally declaring independence from Spain, a move that could bring the tense situation to boiling point.

The regional constitutional court has banned the parliament from meeting on Monday in a pre-emptive move to stop such a declaration.

The example of how the pro-independence Scottish Government and the pro-union UK Government were able to agree a legal, fair and respected independence referendum is an inspiration to many Catalans.

STV News is in Barcelona speaking to Catalan people about their thoughts and feelings as the region edges closer to leaving the Spanish union.

When Vicens Gavalda is asked about if Scotland an example for Catalonia his eyes light up.

"Oh yeah, absolutely yeah," he says.

"We admire Great Britain, the UK, they could get together.

"They could decide a referendum and let the people express what they think, what they want to become."

He added: "People are not afraid of democracy and voting. This is why we don't understand this reaction from the government."

His friend Txiki Blasi finds it hard to understand why the Spanish state and fellow Catalans who oppose independence are reluctant to make their argument in a political campaign.

"If you do not want the separation of Catalonia, make the referendum and make the campaign for No," he argues.

Gavalda wants Catalonia to be able to determine his own future.

"We are not terrorists," he says.

"We are just people from the street. We are European, we want to express what we think and what we want to become."