The First Minister has arrived for talks in Brussels with European Union leaders.

The SNP leader has held discussions with the president of the European Parliament Martin Schulz and will hold a further meeting with the president of the EU Commission this afternoon.

Juncker said he will "listen to Nicola Sturgeon. Scotland won their right to be heard in Brussels".

The First Minister said the meeting between herself and Schulz on Wednesday morning was an "initial" engagement.

She said: "This is very much an initial meeting, a series of meetings in Brussels today, so that people understand that Scotland, unlike other parts, of the United Kingdom does not want to leave the European Union".

The First Minister has also met with former Belgium prime minister Guy Verhofstadt who leads the the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe party inside the European Parliament.

Verhofstadt will be part of the Parliament's negotiation team with Brexit.

The First Minister also met with Manfred Weber who chairs the European Peoples' People group in the European Parliament - the largest party within it.

Sturgeon will meet with Juncker later today at 4pm UK time.

The Luxembourgian politician heads the executive body of the European Union.

The SNP leader said the aim of her trip is to "protect Scotland's relationship with the European Union".

Speaking ahead of the Brussels visit, she said: "My objective at this very early stage is firstly to raise awareness of the fact that Scotland voted differently in this referendum to the UK as a whole and that there is an aspiration and desire in Scotland, cross-party, to protect Scotland's relationship with the European Union and our place in the European Union.

"And secondly, to begin the process of mapping out and exploring what the options for Scotland might be.

"I'm very aware that this is a long process ahead of us, it's likely to be a difficult and challenging process, but I'm determined that we take every possible step to protect Scotland's interests at every stage of it."