The Humanist Society Scotland (HSS) has backed the Scottish Government's decision to bring a bill on gay marriages before Holyrood.

The group, which promotes a secular society, said most marriages north of the Border were already non-religious and it was looking forward to a non-dogmatic debate leading up to the legislation being passed.

Ahead of the bill's publication tomorrow, Ross Wright of the HSS said: "The new law will give same sex couples the right to marry, it will allow those religious and secular groups that wish to conduct same-sex marriage the opportunity to do so.

"Equally, it will give those religions that do not wish to conduct same-sex marriage the right not to do so."