A Scottish expat has lost her battle to be allowed to vote in the EU referendum.

Jacquelyn MacLennan from Inverness has been seeking the right to vote in the upcoming referendum despite not living in the UK for the required time.

The EU Referendum Act 2015 however states that those who have lived outside the UK for 15 years do not have the right to vote. The Scot has lived in Belgium since 1987 and is a lawyer at a Brussels law firm.

MacLennan wanted to cast a vote to remain in the European Union in the referendum in June.

The UK Supreme Court upheld earlier decisions by the High Court and the Court of the Appeal which said MacLennan was not qualified to vote in the referendum.

The five Supreme Court justices Lady Hale, Lord Mance, Lord Reed, Lord Sumption and Lord Hughes - were unanimously in their verdict.

Lady Hale said: "We have decided that it is not arguable that there is an interference with the right to free movement for the reasons given by both the [High Court] and the Court of Appeal in this case."

MacLennan said that she was "deeply disappointed" by the Court's verdict.

The Scot, who specialises in EU law, said: "I thought our arguments were very compelling. I feel we have tried our best but, having got to this stage and been able to make our arguments before the Supreme Court, we have not been able to change this law, which is so manifestly unjust."

MacLennan was joined in her bid to overturn the law by fellow British expat Harry Shindler.

Shindler has lived in Italy for 35 years. The war veteran fell in love with the nation after serving in the country during the Second World War.

The 95 year old served in the Anzio Landings in 1944 and in the liberation of Rome.