SNP given 拢500,000 by lottery winners Christine and Colin Weir

Image source, PA

Image caption, Christine and Colin Weir have used their fortune to fund a number of good causes

A couple who won a record 拢161m Euromillions jackpot six years ago donated a further 拢500,000 to the SNP ahead of June's general election.

Christine and Colin Weir, from Largs in North Ayrshire, each donated 拢250,000 to the party on 27 April, .

Prime Minister Theresa May had called a snap election nine days earlier.

It brings the total amount the Weirs have donated to the SNP since 2011 to 拢4.5m.

The couple also donated 拢3.5m to the pro-independence Yes Scotland campaign ahead of the 2014 referendum.

The latest figures also showed the Weirs loaned the SNP 拢100,000 during the second quarter of 2017. The party has received 拢2.1m of loans from the couple since 2015 and has paid back 拢1.6m.

'Lifelong supporters'

Mr and Mrs Weir have also used their fortune to fund a number of good causes, including buying a 13-year-old boy a prosthetic leg, and have established a charitable trust to help fund health, sport, cultural, recreational and animal welfare projects.

They describe themselves as "lifelong supporters of independence".

The Electoral Commission said the SNP also received 拢63,000 as a bequest, and a further 拢23,000 from leading artist Gerard Burns.

Overall, the figures show the party reported 拢596,000 in donations between April and June of this year.

The figures showed that political parties across the UK were given a record 拢40.1m in donations ahead of June's general election - with the Conservatives receiving more than all their rivals combined.

Biggest donor

A total of 拢24.8m was given to the Tories from April to June, more than double Labour's 拢9.4m. The Lib Dems were given 拢4.3m.

The biggest donor over the three-month period covering the 2017 general election campaign was the Unite union - which gave 拢4.1m to Labour - followed by the construction vehicle manufacturer JCB, which donated 拢1.5m to the Tories.

Former Conservative Party deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, who said last year that he would start donating to the Tories again having fallen out with former leader David Cameron, gave 拢500,000.

In Scotland, the Scottish Conservatives were handed a total of 拢27,000 from four donors in Moray - the key target seat the party ultimately won from the SNP's Angus Robertson.

Scottish Labour received a 拢20,000 donation from businessman Lord William Haughey, while the Scottish Liberal Democrats received a total of 拢42,500 - including a 拢25,000 donation from Stobo Castle Health Spa.