The family of a man who died in a boating accident have received an official apology after they had to identify his body in a "derelict" mortuary.

Frank Whyte's family have been campaigning to improve the country's mortuaries after being left "desolate" by the condition at Spynie Mortuary in Moray, where his body was left on a trolley in "dampness and squalor".

Mr Whyte, 69, died after his yacht overturned in a freak squall in Findhorn Bay in May.

On Thursday, public health minister Aileen Campbell issued a public apology to his widow Maryan at the Scottish Parliament and said officials will review mortuary provision across Scotland.

In a debate on the condition of Scotland's mortuaries, Moray MSP Richard Lochhead called for inspections to be held to prevent any other family from going through the same trauma.

Mr Lochhead said Mr Whyte's daughter Natalie described the mortuary as a "derelict building".

Since their campaign began earlier this year, the use of the mortuary for identifications has been scrapped.

Mr Lochhead said: "The whole experience was traumatic for a recently bereaved family and failed to adequately respect the dignity of their loved one.

"The Whyte family are also aware that it's a similar situation in other parts of Scotland. They do not want any other family to go through what they went through, anywhere.

"They wish to ensure dignity for the deceased and that people do not endure additional distress during the formal identification of a loved one."

He added: "The Whyte family's campaign has achieved so much so far, they have achieved changes in Moray, but now they want to see all mortuaries in Scotland inspected and steps taken where necessary to make sure that they all meet an agreed set of 21st-century standards, that are monitored and complied with both in terms of of the facilities and the process of identification, in line with what we would expect in compassionate society."

Conservative MSP Douglas Ross questioned why the operators felt the mortuary was suitable as it was built in the 1930s and the hospital it was attached to was closed by the NHS 12 years previously.

Fellow Conservative MSP Graham Simpson said Mr Whyte's widow found her husband "lying not in comfort and security but in dampness and squalor".

He said: "It's beyond belief that her husband should have been left in a room that appeared abandoned and unmaintained. No wonder she described herself as feeling desolate."

Ms Campbell said: "To be asked to visit the mortuary at Spynie Hospital, which was obviously in such a poor, inappropriate condition, was completely unacceptable and compounded their upset, their trauma and their pain.

"I would like to pass on my sincerest condolences to Mrs Whyte and her family in the gallery today, and to say how sorry I was to hear of their experience."

She said the Scottish Government had written to health boards to ensure its mortuary guidance is being followed and is holding a review of mortuary provision across Scotland to review and identify areas of action.