NICOLA Sturgeon has thanked all those who “supported” her during her time as First Minister ahead of her final FMQs.

Sturgeon has been carrying out her last few duties as First Minister this week and had an appearance on Loose Women on Monday, where she said the SNP has “mishandled” the membership numbers row but that “perspective” was needed.

She gave a formal apology in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday to those who had been affected by “cruel” historical adoption practices, where mothers were forced to give up their babies.

The National:

Writing on Twitter, she said: “Today at 12 noon, I will do my 286th – and final – session of First Minister’s Questions.

“Immediately afterwards I will make my last speech in @ScotParl chamber as First Minister. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way.”

Many replied to the Tweet with a message of thanks with one user commenting they would be “in the public gallery to see it all” and that Sturgeon had been “incredible”.

Another said: “All the best for your future endeavours” while someone else added: “all the best for the future”.

Sturgeon’s resignation triggered the SNP’s first leadership election campaign in nearly 20 years.

Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan went head to head for the final time on Tuesday evening in a debate on Times Radio.

The ballot for SNP members is set to close at noon on March 27.