Holyrood having a veto over Brexit could be brought into "sharp focus" by two legal challenges, the First Minister has said.

The court cases are contesting the Prime Minister's right to trigger Article 50 without needing MPs' approval.

Campaigners in Northern Ireland are going ahead with a legal bid and a separate case in England will be heard at the High Court in London in October.

At an appearance before Holyrood's Europe and external affairs committee, Sturgeon raised the prospect of the Scottish Parliament being empowered with a legislative consent motion (LCM).

These motions are required when Westminster considers legislation which would apply to reserved and devolved Scottish matters, with the aim to save Holyrood having to pass separate devolved legislation.

The First Minister told MSPs she is "monitoring" the progress of these legal challenges.

Sturgeon said: "I have no inside knowledge on this but we might well get to a stage where we have a court decision that says parliament has to be involved in that way.

"I have to say the Scottish Government is keeping a very close eye on these court actions and will assess as they proceed at all stages whether there is an argument for us to become directly involved to make sure that the interests of the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament are protected.

"If that was to be the case that there was a decision - and I'm speculating now - that Parliament had to pass legislation, that brings the issue of an LCM into sharp focus."