Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has given a warm welcome to the ban on marriages taking place in Scotland being lifted.

The announcement came following the success of the Scottish Conservatives in amending legislation in the Scottish Parliament so that steps will be taken to ensure weddings and civil partnerships can go ahead.

Although there was no formal prevention in place, registrars had stopped taking weddings for fear of being overwhelmed by the volume of work in registering deaths.

Mr Cameron commented: “I was very happy to give my support to this measure.

“There are couples around the Highlands and Islands who really want to take this next step in their lives, and now, I hope, they will be able to.

“This may seem like a small matter in the face of the continued crisis, but it is a symbol of hope for the future.

“There are plenty of places where couples can safely get married, with the required three other people in attendance, observing the necessary social distance.

“I’m sure that people in communities across our region will take pleasure in hearing the wedding bells ringing again.”