A former Conservative MP nicknamed the "Buchan Bulldog" for his tenacious support of the North Sea fishing industry has died.

Sir Albert McQuarrie, who represented Banff and Buchan and Aberdeenshire East between 1979 and 1987, passed away on Wednesday, aged 98.

He was described by former secretary of state for Scotland Sir Malcolm Rifkind as a "great champion of the fishing industry of the north east".

The parliamentarian piloted a number of bills, including the Regulations in the Safety at Sea Act, which made life safer for fishermen.

The act meant that for the first time fishing vessels were forced to carry emergency radio beacons, automatic-release liferafts, and lifejackets.

He lead the opposition to the British Nationality Bill, which was designed to prevent the people of Gibraltar from becoming British citizens.

Sir Albert left parliament in 1987 when he was defeated at the polls by future Scottish National Party leader and First Minister Alex Salmond.