The body of former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has been brought back to Scotland on a private jet, six days after the politician died suddenly in North Macedonia.

The plane carrying the body of the former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond has taken off from North Macedonia, bound for Aberdeen. Mr Salmond died on Saturday from a heart attack while speaking at a conference in the city of Ohrid in the country’s south west.

Mr Salmond’s body will return to the north east of Scotland, close to his home in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, and the seats he represented at both Westminster and Holyrood, this afternoon. Plans are being put in place for a private family funeral along with a more public memorial service.

Alex Salmond served as first minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014 and was leader of the Scottish National Party on two occasions.

Businessman Sir Tom Hunter has confirmed he paid for the chartered flight which will return Alex Salmond’s body to Scotland on Friday. The former first minister of Scotland died aged 69 after suffering a heart attack in the city of Ohrid, North Macedonia, on Saturday, where he was attending a conference.

Mr Salmond's wife Moira was sat inside a funeral car during the short ceremony at the airport. A small group of people with saltire flags had gathered near the terminal building ahead of the flight's arrival.