The MSP who will fill the vacancy created by the death of Bashir Ahmad has been officially named by the SNP.

Anne McLaughlin, 42, the highest-ranking SNP Glasgow list candidate not to be elected in 2007, is expected to take her oath of office in the next few days.

Ms McLaughlin paid tribute to Mr Ahmad, 68, who died on Friday.

A book of condolence in his memory is to be opened on Tuesday in the main hall of the Scottish Parliament.

Ms McLaughlin said: "Bashir Ahmad was a great colleague and an excellent MSP. These are not the circumstances in which I would wish to enter Parliament. However, it will be an honour to serve the people of Glasgow as their MSP and one I hope I will fulfil with the same warmth and humanity that Bashir brought to the job."

As well as being a list candidate, Ms McLaughlin stood for Glasgow Springburn in the 2007 election.

She has been a Nationalist party member for 20 years and currently works as a parliamentary researcher for SNP MSP Bob Doris.

Her career includes work in fund-raising, and a three-month spell in Sri Lanka as a communications assistant with an Edinburgh body helping with post-tsunami economic regeneration.