A CHRISTMAS card commissioned by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has raised nearly £1,000 for charity.

Mairi Hedderwick's original artwork for last year's Christmas card was based on her Katie Morag books and went under the hammer at an auction on Saturday.

The proceeds of the auction will be split between four charities, Children 1st, Enable Scotland, Books Abroad and the Scottish Refugee Council.

The watercolour, showing Katie Morag greeting children at Bute House, the First Minister's official residence, was auctioned for £1,000 by TV antiques expert Anita Manning at Great Western Auctions in Glasgow.

Since 2007, artwork from the First Minister's official Christmas cards have raised nearly £170,000 for good causes through sales of the original paintings and limited edition prints.

Ms Sturgeon said: "I was delighted that Mairi Hedderwick was able to create such a wonderful illustration for last year's Christmas card.

"Katie Morag's adventures accompanied by Mairi's beautiful illustrations are adored by both children and adults right across the world.

"Christmas is a time for spending time with those we love, but it is also a time for thinking about those less fortunate than ourselves.

"There is no doubt that Scotland is a caring and compassionate country and First Ministers' Christmas cards aim to publicise and support charity projects which do so much in our communities. Mairi generously donated her time and talent to the Christmas card initiative and she should be extremely proud of helping to support these fantastic good causes."