Stuart McMillan was blown away after achieving a lifelong ambition to play the Scottish national anthem at Hampden

The Greenock & Inverclyde MSP swapped parliament for the pitch as he took to the hallowed turf before Scotland's vital European championship qualifier against Cyprus on Saturday night.

Mr McMillan was invited by the SFA to play the national anthem to mark the 20th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament this year.

Despite his nerves, the MSP gave a flawless performance of 'Flower of Scotland' with nearly 30,000 supporters in the stands singing along heartily.

The team then delivered the goods on the park with a 2-1 victory, courtesy of captain Andy Robertson and a late winner by Oliver Burke and Mr McMillan says it's a night he will never forget.

He said: "It was great. "It was an experience of a lifetime and I thoroughly enjoyed it. "The fact that the team won as well was a bonus."

The MSP, who is the official piper of the Scottish Parliament, was thrilled to be flying the flag for Holyrood at the National Stadium.

It was third time lucky for the piping politician, having missed out on his Hampden dream twice in the past and playing at Ibrox and Celtic Park instead while the Mount Florida ground was being redeveloped.

Mr McMillan said: "It was a wonderful experience and something I had wanted to do for many years.

"I'm very appreciative of the SFA for letting me do it."