PEOPLE have been evacuated from offices at the Scottish Parliament after three Conservative MSPs received suspicious packages containing a white powder.

Police and firefighters were called after the first package was opened in the office of Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston.

Two other Tory MSPs, including Edward Mountain, also received the envelopes, but these were not opened.

Mr Halcro Johnston was in a committee when the discovery was made.

The MSP block has been evacuated, with politicians and staff waiting in the garden lobby.

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson was among those seen waiting anxiously for new.

Business in the rest of the Holyrood complex is continuing as normal.

Police and fire service personnel, some wearing protective gloves, were also seen working in the small garden next to the MSP block and canteen.

The evacuation is expected to last several hours.

A Scottish Parliament spokesman said: "An incident has occurred requiring the evacuation of the MSP building at Holyrood.The MSP block is currently closed.

“Parliament staff are working to assess the situation. The Police are in attendance at the scene. The Parliament's Incident Management Team has been activated.

“This is part of a pre-arranged process put in place, ready to deal with such developing situations."

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Police in Edinburgh responded to the Scottish Parliament at around 11.35 a.m following the discovery of a suspicious package.

"The building has been evacuated as a precaution and inquiries are continuing."