Salmond's coffin draped in Saltire as his body is flown home

Alex Salmond's coffin was draped in a Saltire as the plane bringing him home to Scotland took off from North Macedonia.

Former  First Minister 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.

The flight, which was chartered by Scottish tycoon Sir Tom Hunter, took off from the St Paul the Apostle Airport just after 10.20am UK time.

Mr Salmond's body will return to Aberdeen, close to his home in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, and the seats he represented at both Westminster and Holyrood, in the afternoon.

Plans are being put in place for for a private family funeral along with a more public memorial service.

Former SNP MP and Alba Party chairwoman, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, was among those who placed the flag on top of the coffin before it was taken to the plane, charted by Sir Tom.

Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport

Mr Salmond's coffin was carried by six members of the North Macedonian military to the flight, along a red carpet which was flanked by eight other soldiers standing at attention, to the sound of a trumpet.

The soldiers, flight and ground crew observed a moment's silence before the Alba Party leader's body was loaded onto the flight.

The Salmond family were in talks with the UK and Scottish Governments about the best way to repatriate his remains.

His friend, Tory MP Sir David Davis, had pushed for the RAF to be used to bring his body back.

But the decision was taken, instead, to use a private charter paid for by Sir Tom.

The businessman said on Thursday: 'Whilst he and I disagreed on some of his ambitions, Alex Salmond devoted his life to Scotland and the Scottish people and, as such, he - and importantly his family - deserved the dignity and privacy of a private return to the home of his birth.

'Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with his family at this time.

To be clear, I remain resolutely apolitical.'

Kenny MacAskill, who stepped in after Mr Salmond's death to take over as the acting leader of the Alba Party, said: 'The family are incredibly grateful for the support which is being provided by a private citizen to charter a private plane to allow Alex's body to come home to Scotland.

'It brings a great deal of comfort to Moira and other members of the family to know that he will soon be home with them.

'The family have asked that their privacy be respected at this time and will be making an announcement in due course about the funeral arrangements and a memorial service to honour the life of Alex Salmond.'