A former Catalan minister who faced extradition to Spain on charges of rebellion has been told she is free to go.

St Andrews lecturer Clara Ponsati appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday after Spanish authorities withdrew an International arrest warrant for her.

Warrants for several others, including former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, have also been dropped.

Sheriff Nigel Ross told Ponsati: "As you know the Arrest Warrant has been withdrawn and it just remains for me to discharge you."

The decision to rescind the warrants means Ms Ponsati and her colleagues are no longer threatened with extradition. However, they will still face legal proceedings if they return to Spain.

Lawyer Aamer Anwar, who has been representing Ms Ponsati, said it could leave members of the former Catalan government in permanent exile.

Ms Ponsati faces charges of violent rebellion and misappropriation of public funds used in the 2017 referendum on Catalan independence.

Violent clashes followed the vote in October, which was declared illegal by the Spanish Government.

Speaking outside court, Ms Ponsati said: "I am just determined to keep fighting for the freedom of all political prisoners, for civil rights in Catalonia and Spain and for the Republic of Catalonia."