Mourners gather for Alex Salmond's funeral

Alex Salmond's funeral will be a "dignified and fitting" tribute to his life, says the minister who will lead the service later.

The Reverend Ian McEwan, a family friend, will lead the private ceremony at 13:00 in Strichen Parish Church, near the former first minister's Aberdeenshire home.

Salmond is being laid to rest just over two weeks after he died of a heart attack, aged 69, while attending a conference in North Macedonia.

The service, to be attended by family and close friends, will be followed by a private burial.

Eulogies are to be delivered by acting Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill, former SNP cabinet colleague Fergus Ewing and niece Christina Hendry.

First Minister John Swinney, who has submitted a motion of condolence to the Scottish Parliament, is not attending the service.

A spokesperson said: "In line with the wishes of Mr Salmond's family, the funeral is private.

"The thoughts of the first minister and the Scottish government remain with the family and friends of Mr Salmond."

Mr McEwan, who led the funeral for Salmond’s father Robert in 2017, said that while Salmond was ebullient and confident in public, he was also a "remarkable people person" who "cared about ordinary folk".

The minister said he hoped to offer comfort to the family in a “dignified and fitting tribute to his life” that is “shielded from the public gaze”.

He said the circumstances of Salmond’s death in North Macedonia added “a layer of complexity" for the family to contend with.

“There's a huge amount of distress and sadness around as you'd guess," Mr McEwan said.

“They are an incredible family and just an inspiration to be with, even in such difficult circumstances as this.”

Salmond's body was repatriated to Scotland from North Macedonia on a private flight paid for by Scottish businessman Sir Tom Hunter.

The former first minister had been at a conference held by the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy when he had a heart attack during lunch with other delegates.

His wife Moira, his sisters Margaret and Gail, his brother Bob and his nieces and nephews released a statement praising him as "a devoted and loving husband, a fiercely loyal brother, a proud and thoughtful uncle and a faithful and trusted friend".

MSPs are expected to pay tribute to Salmond on Wednesday when they debate the motion of condolence submitted by the first minister.