The Scottish Government has not sought legal advice on an independent Scotland joining the European Union since Thursday's referendum, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The First Minister is in Brussels to meet with leading European Union politicians following the UK's vote to leave the organisation last week.

Following the vote, the SNP leader said a second independence referendum is "on the table"and is "highly likely" if the country cannot remain in the European Union without leaving the United Kingdom.

Sturgeon said her new advisory panel which she has appointed to aid the Scottish Government in the process contains "legal minds" but the she has "government lawyers that give me formal legal advice when I need that".

In an interview with STV, the First Minister revealed that she has not received fresh legal advice on an independent Scotland's ascension to the body since the referendum result.

Sturgeon said: "In this context? We only had a referendum three or four days ago now."

The SNP leader then went on to say she would take formal legal advice on the matter.

She said: "We are not in the position where we have took formal advice on all of these different matters.

"As we progress, then as particular decisions arrive then yes I will take all of the advice I will need at any given time."

The First Minister refused to commit herself to publishing the legal advice she receives in full from her lawyers.

She said: "You know the situation with legal advice so I am not sitting here saying we will publish every piece of advice we get, no government would do that.

"What I have said is that all along here, remember I am in a position here I did not choose to be in, so all along - I said this in parliament yesterday - I will be open and honest with people about the circumstances we face, about the challenges we face, about the barriers we face as well as the opportunities we face.

"I am trying here to, out of a mess that is not of our making, get some stability for Scotland and a good outcome for Scotland."