Alex Salmond told Holyrood that he leaves office with "a sense of optimism and confidence" yesterday as he resigned as Scotland's First Minister.

In a statement at the Scottish Parliament, Mr Salmond said it had been "the privilege of his life" to serve in the role for the past seven-and-a-half years.

He is making way for his deputy Nicola Sturgeon to take over and he said she would make an "outstanding" first minister.