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A vote in favour of Scottish independence will be a "huge gamble" and a step into the unknown, Welsh Secretary David Jones has warned.

The people of Scotland go to the polls on 18 September next year to decide whether the nation should become an independent country from the UK.

Mr Jones queried the Scottish government's plans in a speech.

He said "fundamentally important questions" about the costs of a Yes vote have not been answered.

His speech "Devolution in the Continuing Union" was delivered to an audience of students in Durham.

It comes days after Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond launched the Scottish government's 649-page White Paper on how it believes Scotland could operate after independence.

But Mr Jones said that the document "fails to give credible answers" to questions on currency, pensions and the cost of independence, and that it "appears to be nothing more than a wish-list designed to hide what independence means".

Mr Jones said that Scotland is already part of one of the world's most successful unions and that devolution enables Scotland to take important decisions that affect daily life.

He said that Scotland, like Wales, is benefiting from two legislatures and two governments working in their interests and stress that a flexible model of devolution is one that is right for the UK.

He said that independence "will not bring about a new union" but will see Scotland leaving the UK, bringing about "a fundamental and irreversible change that cannot be determined in advance of the referendum".

His speech came just over a week after First Minister Carwyn Jones spoke in Edinburgh of his hopes Scottish voters would opt to stay in a "strong UK".

"I genuinely hope Scotland does not break away because that decision would affect the whole of the UK," he told an audience in Edinburgh.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister David Cameron said Scotland should remain part of the UK because having two governments looking after its affairs offered "the best of both worlds".

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said Scotland and all of the nations of the UK were stronger together when it came to the economy, jobs, defence, security and influence in the world.

But those in favour of independence, such as Mr Salmond, believe the people of Scotland are "best placed" to make decisions that affect the country.

"We want a Scotland that's greener, that's fairer and more prosperous," the SNP leader said previously.

"We realise that the power of an independent Scotland is necessary to achieve these great ends."

Scotland could be independent on 24 March, 2016 if the vote goes in favour next September.