SCOTLAND and Catalonia are different countries Nicola Sturgeon has said after parties in favour of independence from Spain won a majority in the regional parliament.

Ms Sturgeon said while people in Scotland will be “watching with great interest” there are different circumstances.

She said a legally binding vote, similar to what the Scottish and UK governments agreed for the Scottish referendum is the way forward to settle the issue of Catalan independence.

The First Minister said: “What happens in terms of Catalonia and Spain, and the relationship between the two, is a matter for the people of Catalonia, just as Scotland's constitutional future is a matter for the people of Scotland.

"I'm sure many people in Scotland, given our recent experience of a referendum, will be looking with great interest at what is happening in Catalonia.

"We know from the experience of the referendum that many Catalans look with great interest at what happens in Scotland, but we are two different countries with different circumstances, different situations, different experiences and the future of Catalonia will be decided by the people of Catalonia."

She said the Edinburgh agreement negotiated between the two governments and signed by Alex Salmond and David Cameron which led to the referendum was an example to others how to settle matters democratically.

She added: “My view is that it was a credit to both the Scottish Government and the UK Government that our referendum happened as a consensual democratic exercise in self-determination.

"I think Scotland has given the world an example of how to make these big decisions in absolutely the right way."

Parties in favour of Catalonia seceding from Spain won 48% of the vote, with unionists taking 37% and others undecided or not decisively on one side or the other on the issue won the remaining 15%.

It left the separatists with a majority of seats in the parliament.