Staff have started the process of verifying the ballot papers of tens of thousands of voters across the Highlands at three count centres – two in Inverness and one in Dingwall.

On behalf of the returning officer Donna Manson, Highland Council tweeted that all the verification process is "well underway."

The two centres in Inverness will tally the ballots from the Inverness and Nairn constituency as well as from Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch seat.

Caithness, Sutherland and Ross will be sorted and counted at the Highland Football Academy in Dingwall.

Verification determines which ballots have been spoiled by being filled in incorrectly or else whether the voting intention has been obscured in some other way.

That happens in front of election agents and candidates to ensure the integrity of the process.

This year it will be a more complicated process due to Covid restrictions limiting the space available to staff doing the count, agents and candidates as well as the media.

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