Alex Salmond has been laid to rest following a private funeral near his home in Aberdeenshire yesterday.

The former first minister's coffin was draped in Saltire as it arrived at Strichen Parish Church on Tuesday.

Mr Salmond died of a heart attack while attending a conference in North Macedonia earlier this month.

Eulogies at the church service were delivered by acting Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill, former SNP colleague Fergus Ewing and Salmond's niece Christina Hendry.

Many political figures were in attendance including SNP MPs Jim Sillars, Joanna Cherry and Eilidh Whiteford, his former Chief of Staff, Geoff Aberdein, as well as ex-Commons speaker John Bercow.

Speaking at the service, Kenny MacAskill, hailed his late friend as "a giant of a man, the leader of our country, the leader of our movement", before describing him as "an inspiration, a political genius, an orator, debater and communicator without parallel".

After the funeral, piper Fergus Mutch, who previously worked for Mr Salmond, led a procession behind the Saltire-draped coffin to the cemetery at Strichen for a private service.

A public memorial for for Alex Salmond is expected to be held at a later date.

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