Salmond's body to be brought home on private flight

A private individual is paying for a charter flight to bring Alex Salmond’s body back to Scotland from North Macedonia.

The former first minister died suddenly from a heart attack in the Balkan country on Saturday at the age of 69.

There had been calls for an RAF flight to repatriate his body, but it is understood a private charter flight - paid for independently - will be used.

A private family funeral will be held for the Alba Party leader, followed by a public memorial event at a later date.

No timeline for Salmond's repatriation has been publicly announced.

Tributes have been paid to former SNP leader Salmond from across the political spectrum in recent days.

During Prime Ministers' Questions, Sir Keir Starmer described him as a "monumental figure in Scottish and UK politics".

Tory leader Rishi Sunak and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey also paid tribute in the Commons.