The Glasgow woman who led the campaign for Fatal Accident Inquiry laws to be held for deaths abroad has welcomed a new bill.

Under proposed legislation FAIs could now be held for Scots who die overseas.

It would allow the Lord Advocate for the first time to hold an FAI where the body had been repatriated.

Julie Love, 44, from Maryhill, petitioned the Scottish Government for a change after her son Colin, 23, died in a drowning accident in the Caribbean in January 2009.

She was alarmed by the lack of support and information offered to bereaved families and the inquiries could be held for English deaths but not in Scots.

She also launched the first charity in Scotland, DAYNA - Death Abroad You Are Not Alone - that offers support to families who have lost loved ones overseas.

Julie, who is a former Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year finalist, said: "I'm delighted for Scottish families that this bill has finally been introduced to the Scottish Parliament.

"I'm aware there's still a long road to go and retrospectively it won't help me or any other families get answers but they'll be happy in the knowledge that this has finally been introduced and families won't have to go through some of the hell that they have.

"I am hopeful that after the previous consultations and the introduction of this Bill that families will finally be listened to when a loved one dies abroad."

The Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Bill followed the review published in 2009 by the former Lord President, Lord Cullen.

Permitting discretionary FAIs into the deaths of Scots abroad was one of 36 recommendations he made.

Under the Bill the Lord Advocate would only hold an FAI into a Scots death abroad if he considered the cause had not been sufficiently established in any investigation already carried out.

He must also consider there to be a real prospect that the full circumstances would be established at an FAI.

Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris said: "I am delighted that I have been able to assist Julie Love to bring us to the point where the Scottish Government has listened to and accepted our argument. "Today is a real milestone towards winning our campaign to have FAIs into the deaths of Scots that die overseas.

"There is still more we need to do though, including making sure that any decision made by the Lord Advocate on such matters is based on sound criteria and that he has all the relevant information at his disposal.

"The campaign goes on but this is a significant victory."