POLICE officers have been spotted searching the garden at Peter Murrell's home.

The former SNP chief executive - who married Nicola Sturgeon in 2010 - was arrested on Wednesday morning in connection with an ongoing investigation into the spending of about £600,000 which was earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning.

The National: Police have been carrying garden tools out of the home of Peter Murrell and Nicola SturgeonPolice have been carrying garden tools out of the home of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon (Image: PA)

He stepped down last month following controversy about misleading information being given to journalists over the party’s membership numbers.

Pictures have emerged of officers carrying garden tools out of the propety in Uddingston, where Murrell lives with former first minister Sturgeon.

The National:

Officers have also been seen looking in a small shed in the garden and at items such as laptops, while accompanied by a photographer.

Earlier in the day a blue tent was set up in the front garden of the house, with police taping it off.

Police also launched a search of the party’s Edinburgh headquarters, with police vans seen parked outside and uniformed officers standing inside the building.