Nicola Sturgeon is elected first minister of Scotland

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has been elected as Alex Salmond's successor as first minister of Scotland.

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, also stood for the role, saying she knew she was likely to lose, given the SNP majority in Holyrood, but was offering "an alternative vision of Scotland".

Mr Salmond stepped down as first minister on Tuesday. Ms Sturgeon will be first minister elect until she is sworn in on Thursday.

The Scottish Parliament's presiding officer Tricia Marwick MSP said: "As the first woman presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament let me congratulate Nicola Sturgeon on being the first woman to be nominated to the position of first minister of Scotland."

The complete election process and speeches, including Ms Sturgeon's acceptance speech, can be watched live or on demand at BBC Scotland's Democracy Live website.