NEW powers are to be transferred to Holyrood in March that will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in Scottish elections, the UK Government has confirmed.

An agreement has been reached between Holyrood and Westminster about the timetable for a Section 30 order - which will allow MSPs to legislate to lower the voting age for Scottish Parliament and Scottish local government elections.

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said that after last year's independence referendum, in which 16 and 17-year-olds were given a say, the case for lowering the voting age was "undeniable".

The move is the first stage of implementing the Smith Commission proposals on further devolution.

The Section 30 order is being used to ensure the voting age can be reduced to 16 in time for the next Scottish Parliament elections, in May 2016.