Nicola Sturgeon has announced her resignation as Scotland’s First Minister.

The Scottish National Party leader made the shock announcement at a press conference in Edinburgh this morning.

She said she made the decision with the best interests of her party and her country at heart - insisting it was not related to "short-term pressures", such as the ongoing divisions in her party about transgender rights.

She said the First Minister's job is the "very best job in the world" but noted that over time, "it takes its toll on you and all around you".

Ms Sturgeon said she believed part of "serving well would be to know almost instinctively when the time is right" to step down.

"In my head and in my heart I know that time is now," she said. "That it is right for me and my party and for the country."

The 52-year-old said her resignation will free the SNP to “choose the path it believes to be the right one” on Scottish independence.

"I am not expecting violins here, but I am a human being as well as a politician,” she said.

“Giving absolutely everything of yourself to this job is the only way to do it. The country deserves nothing less. But in truth, that can only be done by anyone for so long. For me, it is now in danger of becoming too long.”

Ms Sturgeon said she would stay in post until somebody else takes over and remain as an MSP until at least the next Holyrood election.

She said the SNP would announce the process for electing a new leader over the coming days, but refused to say who her preferred candidate would be.

With reporting from IRN.