SNP MP Angus Robertson has been elected as the party's new depute leader.

The Moray MP saw off competition from fellow MP Tommy Sheppard, MEP Alyn Smith and Inverclyde councillor Chris McEleny for the role.

On accepting the role, the MP said the country was "very, very close to independence" and the party should start "campaigning right now" to win over those who voted No in 2014.

During the election, Robertson said he was "open" to changing the SNP's policy on which currency an independent Scotland should use.

The Moray MP said: "I am open to the prospect of a Scottish pound.

"We cannot rule out other options and that's why we have to go through a process which involves internal debate, internal discussion and an agreement across the party."

His election came before Nicola Sturgeon's welcoming address to the conference on Thursday.

SNP members had been voting in the contest since September 21.

The election used the single transferable voting system, with members ranking the candidates in order of their preference.

Robertson was declared the winner on the first day of the party's annual conference after gaining 52% of first preference votes in the opening round.

The role became available following the resignation of Stewart Hosie MP.

Following reports about his private life, Hosie resigned a short time later citing health reasons.

The MP said he was suffering "stress" caused by the "intense scrutiny" of the media.