A hard-hitting report published today has said that the BBC needs to improve its coverage of Scotland and the other nations and regions of the UK in its news coverage.

The report by Professor Anthony King has said that the BBC was "falling short of its own high standards and failing to meet its core purpose of helping inform democracy”.

The findings of the report have been welcomed by Scottish Liberal Democrat Culture spokesperson Iain Smith.

Mr Smith, who met Professor King as part of the process, said:

“The BBC has still got a lot of work to do to catch up with the post-devolution landscape of Britain.

“Here in Scotland the BBC has invested massively in Pacific Quay and now is the time for them to invest in journalism and programming.

“Liberal Democrats welcome the commitment by BBC management to bring forward a detailed action plan in July and we will study their proposals very carefully to ensure that the high standards which viewers and listeners expect are applied in a changing environment.”