Nationalist MSP Joan McAlpine has been cleared of wrongdoing following accusations she breached parliamentary rules over expenses.

The South of Scotland member had referred herself for scrutiny by Holyrood's corporate body amid wider allegations in a newspaper about her private life.

Her solicitor Aamer Anwar said the matter was now closed and she was not being investigated by the Public Standards Commissioner or by Police Scotland. The investigation centred on the decision to hire a professional photographer at a cost of £1750 to produce work for constituency publications, he said. "When the photographer withdrew consent to use the photographs and the contract could not be completed, Ms McAlpine refunded the expenses to Parliament out of her own pocket and at her own instigation. There was no cost to the public purse."