AN Edinburgh group has built a display outside Bute House thanking Nicola Sturgeon for her efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Weaving Wifies built the message out of odds and ends gathered from around their houses, including bits of hose pipe and hula-hoops.

The group said they are an "ad hoc group of friends and neighbours" who wanted to thank Sturgeon for her "consistent, tireless, competent, honest and humane approach in dealing with this terrible pandemic which has turned our lives upside down".

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Jane, the "driving force" behind the artwork, said: "A week ago on a park bench, a couple of us were just talking about how much we thought Nicola Sturgeon was doing such a fantastic job and we hoped she would be taking a break for her birthday.

The National:

"The idea of sending her a birthday card just mushroomed into this idea.

"We are so grateful for what she is doing for all of us and wish her a heartfelt Happy Birthday!"

Jane explained how "all those bits of material that you are going to do something with" that people have sat around the house "could be put to good use at last".

"So we spread the word around and here you are. Some shapes were hard to manage but with the judicious use of a bit of garden hose and a couple of hula-hoops, we got there."