The SNP is to use the message "Nicola Sturgeon for First Minister" on ballot papers for the Scottish Parliament election.

A similar label was used under Alex Salmond in the last two Holyrood ballots but the slogan was said to have caused "confusion" among voters in 2007 when a breakdown in the counting system led to more than 140,000 lost votes.

It comes as nominations close for the vote on May 5.

SNP campaign director and Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: "From today, the SNP campaign is in top gear. We can be very proud of the strong team of candidates who will represent the party in May.

"We've made real and welcome progress on gender balance - with women making up a higher percentage of both constituency and regional list candidates than ever before.

"Only the SNP has the strength, the unity and the vision to keep Scotland moving forward. Nicola Sturgeon is simply the only credible candidate to lead our country for the next five years."

Eurosceptic unionist party Ukip and pro-independence socialist party Solidarity announced their list of candidates as nominations closed.

Ukip Scotland, led by MEP David Coburn, who is standing on the Highlands and Islands list, has pledged to fight for "a strong Scotland in a strong free United Kingdom" outside the European Union.

Solidarity, convened by former Scottish Socialist Party MSPs Tommy Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne, will campaign for "an independent socialist Scotland".

Announcing his 26 Scottish candidates, Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: "I am certain that this team, led by David Coburn, will break into Holyrood and provide a voice of serious opposition to the stale political consensus in Edinburgh.

"An over-powerful executive needs real opposition, and Ukip in Scotland will provide that."

In a letter to members, Solidarity's conveners said: "Our party is now registered to stand in every one of the eight regional lists across Scotland.

"We have an excellent group of candidates across the country and a very powerful manifesto which promotes a vision for a new and better Scotland, an independent socialist Scotland.

"We call on all members and supporters of Solidarity to concentrate on positive promotion of our key manifesto pledges including an IndyRef2 private member's bill, organised defiance of Tory austerity cuts and the replacement of the unfair council tax with our fairer and radical Scottish service tax."