Legislation to enable the Scottish independence referendum to take place will be passed by MSPs today.

The Scottish Independence Referendum Bill will be formally approved in a vote this afternoon by Holyrood.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon hailed the occasion as a "historic moment in Scotland's home rule journey".

The Bill will allow 16 and 17-year-olds across Scotland to vote for the first time when the crucial ballot is held. It also sets out the spending limits for political parties and other campaign organisations in the run-up to the referendum, to be held on September 18.

Voters going to polls then will be asked the question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

The Bill, which sets out the details of how the referendum will be organised and regulated, also confirms the vote will be overseen by the Electoral Commission.

Ms Sturgeon said the legislation would "put Scotland's future in Scotland's own hands for the first time in more than 300 years".