BUS tycoon Sir Brian Souter has donated £1million to the SNP, matching small donations made by party supporters through the year, it has been confirmed.

Sir Brian had pledged to match every donation received by the party during referendum year up to the six-figure sum.

He has donated to the SNP in the past and other groups that back independence.

Recently he handed £100,000 to Business for Scotland and to Christians for independence, which are both campaigning for a 'Yes' vote in the referendum, which will be held on 18 September.

Welcoming Sir Brian's gift, a spokesman for the SNP said: "It's a fantastic sign of confidence that Brian and others the length and breadth of Scotland are stepping up to the plate to do what they can so that we have the resources to take on the Westminster establishment and win the Yes vote."

Four No campaign groups received donations of £151,248 between June 27 and July 24, compared with two nationalist groups which received £65,000, the Electoral Commission watchdog revealed earlier this month.

The No groups have received a total of £2.7million since December 18 compared with £1.5 million for Yes campaign organisations.

Leading No donors include Harry Potter author JK Rowling and oil magnate Ian Taylor. Euromillions winners Chris and Colin Weir have backed the Yes side generously.