Former SNP MP Natalie McGarry has appeared in court charged with embezzling nearly £40,000 from a pro-independence group.

McGarry, who used to represent Glasgow East, was charged by police over alleged fraud offences in September 2016.

She had resigned the party whip the year before, shortly after police launched an investigation into her, and then stood down as an MP ahead of the 2017 general election.

She made a private appearace before Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday under her married name, Natalie Meikle, facing a total of six charges including three for embezzlement.

The former MP is accused of embezzling more than £41,500 while she was treasurer of Women for Independence, and the treasurer, secretary and convener of the Glasgow Regional Association of the Scottish National Party.

Another two of the charges are under the Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013 and relate to knowingly lying on a financial return and failing to conform to expenses requirements

The final charge relates to an alleged failure to comply with a notice under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

No plea was made and McGarry was released on bail.

Papers from the court allege that between January 2012 and November 2015, McGarry embezzled £33,011 in the course of her role as Women for Independence treasurer.

She is accused of transferring cash raised through fundraising events into her personal account and failing to transfer charitable donations to the Perth and Kinross food bank and to Positive Prison Positive Futures.

It is also claimed she used cheques held in the name of Women for Independence to deposit money into her personal account, allegedly embezzling £4661 between January 2011 and May 2016.

In the course of her roles at the Glasgow Regional Association of the Scottish National Party, it is alleged she used for herself cheques in their name and money donated through the group's website and intended for use by that group.

A final count of embezzlement, totalling £3892, allegedly took place between November 2012 and June 2014.

McGarry is said to have transferred funds into her own account, raised through an online crowdfunding campaign which she set up for the online body Yes Glasgow.

She is also accused in December 2014 of submitting a return "purporting to be the true expenditure incurred by Women for Independence".

It is claimed she falsely declared the group's total referendum campaign expenditure was £24,604, knowing that it was in fact £10,346.

A second charge under the Referendum Act alleges that in the same month she delivered a return for referendum expenses that did not conform to the requirements.

She is said to have falsely stated that to the best of her knowledge and belief it was complete and correct and that the expenditure detailed had been paid by her or someone authorised by her.

McGarry faces a sixth charge of failing to provide a passcode for a mobile phone seized from her by police in August 2016.

She is expected to return to court at a later date.