The BBC will broadcast a series of referendum debate and documentaries and hire 50 extra staff to cover the independence vote in 2014.

Tony Hall, the director general of the BBC, has announced a new £5m fund to create a series of new programmes to be broadcast on television and radio in the run-up to next year's referendum.

The corporation is also due to announce further investment for coverage of the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The investment has been made possible, the BBC said yesterday, by savings achieved through its controversial Delivering Quality First strategy, which has led to the loss of many jobs.

However the Referendum plans include about 50 temporary jobs, a referendum unit and a Referendum Editor.

Ken MacQuarrie, director of BBC Scotland, said: "The referendum is of huge significance for Scotland and this additional investment will ensure audiences get the comprehensive output they expect. The referendum and the Commonwealth Games will be two of the most important events to happen in Scotland in many years and we know there will be huge interest in them from audiences across the UK, and around the world."