Renfrewshire North and West MSP Natalie Don has confirmed she will stand down as a councillor next year and plans to donate her remaining salary to charity.

Miss Don was elected to represent the constituency at Holyrood in May but has remained a councillor for Bridge of Weir, Bishopton and Langbank.

The 32-year-old said it will be the right time to quit Renfrewshire House when council elections are held next year, given that a by-election would cost taxpayers more than her continuing as a councillor.

But she insisted she has no plans to bank both pay cheques this year and is in the process of deciding which charities she would like to donate her £17,806 councillor salary to.

Miss Don said: “After careful consideration, I am continuing in my role as the councillor for Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank but will not be seeking re-election at the local government elections next May.

“It is the honour of my life to represent these wonderful villages and, with the limited time remaining of the term, administering a by-election would cost the public purse much more than covering a councillor’s pay.

“As I appreciate many of my constituents are experiencing extremely challenging times during the pandemic, I will be donating my councillor salary, after tax and backdated to the time I started working as a MSP, to local charities and community groups which I am in the process of meeting during my visits across Renfrewshire North and West.

“I already have several organisations in mind and hope the donations will be helpful in their amazing support for local people.”

Miss Don removed herself from several council boards after becoming a MSP.

As well as representing Renfrewshire North and West, she has landed key roles in the Scottish Parliament after being chosen as deputy convener of the social justice and social security committee and a member of the net-zero, energy and transport committee.

Miss Don said has found ways to manage a larger workload.

“The fact the council ward is covered by the parliament constituency is very helpful and, as a councillor, I did try and be as accessible as possible,” she added.

“So a lot of the communities and people who got in touch with me before now know I’m the MSP and a lot of them have been contacting me that way.

“It has been a larger workload, obviously I’ve stepped back from the boards, but I’m still cracking on with my ward casework because that’s what really matters to folk.”