Nicola Sturgeon said she will “never forget” the moment she was made aware of the sexual harassment claims against former First Minister, Alex Salmond.

She said Alex Salmond asked her to read a letter sent to him by the Scottish Government's permanent secretary, Leslie Evans, about the sexual harassment complaints made by two individuals.

Sturgeon said: "Reading this letter is a moment in my life that I will never forget."

She said the detail of the complaints she was given on April 2 at a meeting in her home “were significant and indeed shocking".

She told the Scottish Parliament committee into the handling of harassment complaints, that she was not aware of complaints against Salmond in her time as deputy First Minister.

Sturgeon said that Salmond’s former chief of Staff, Geoff Aberdein, had persuaded her to meet with the former First Minister as soon as possible.

She said he did mention "harassment-type" allegations but "he did so in general terms" and that he said Salmond might be "considering resigning his party membership".

Sturgeon said she regrets the judicial review which the government finally conceded and had to pay £500,000 in costs to Alex Salmond.

She said: “I deeply regret that, I’m sorry I’m angry. I’m not going to suggest otherwise.”

On the legal advice she said the Scottish Government was “confident” it could defend the action raised by Alex Salmond.

She said the Harassment policy put in place in 2017 was not put in place for Alex Salmond.

She said: “It was not a procedure put in place for Alex Salmond.”

Nicola Sturgeon is continuing to give evidence to the committee this morning.