Police Scotland have provided MSPs with additional security advice in the aftermath of the murder of MP Jo Cox outside her constituency surgery.

Mrs Cox's death has sparked debate about the balance between the accessibility and security of politicians, with many speaking out in defiance of a perceived "attack on democracy".

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said politicians were right to take "appropriate cautions" but stressed the importance of remaining available to the public.

Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland programme, Ms Sturgeon said: "The police in Scotland have been communicating with members of the Scottish Parliament to offer advice and reassurance about the security of MSPs and I think that is appropriate.

"The events of the last couple of days have just been tragic and sad beyond belief but I think it's important, and with everything I've read and heard about Jo Cox I suspect she would agree with this, that we do not respond in a way that closes politicians off from the public.

"Our accessibility, as well as being a duty of politicians, we are after all public servants, is something that is very important to politicians, that ability to be accessible to constituents and to talk to constituents openly."

She added: "Politicians, I think it's fair to say, as human beings will feel slightly more vulnerable now than we did a few days ago and that is to be expected.

"I think all politicians will want to think about appropriate cautions and many will want to discuss with the police what those appropriate precautions should look like.

"But I haven't spoken to a single politician who wants to do surgeries with constant police presences outside the doors of their surgeries or do anything that actually builds barriers between us as elected representatives and the people we are elected to serve."

Meanwhile, the Sunday Herald reported that officers are investigating a complaint from Labour MSP Monica Lennon over alleged abuse that led her to stop publicising her surgeries on social media.

Central Scotland MSP Ms Lennon, 35, told the newspaper that she had complained to police after twice being the target of verbal abuse from a constituent.

She said she had been "haunted" by past experiences of harassment since Mrs Cox's death.

Ms Lennon said: "On Monday night I held my regular advice surgeries in Hamilton, where I'm nearing the end of my five-year term as local councillor.

"Usually I post where I'll be on social media so that the opportunity reaches as many constituents as possible. But not this time. A matter which is still being investigated hung over me.

"After consulting the police and being advised to 'use my common sense' I decided to say nothing, a decision that left me feeling conflicted. Being approachable and accessible has meant everything to me."

She said there was "significant scope" for improving how police and political parties deal with threats.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that police in Hamilton have received a complaint of verbal abuse towards a 35-year-old woman.

"No-one has been arrested at this time and police inquiries are continuing."