Heather McGilp has been appointed director of the Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters.

When she takes up the post in Edinburgh in November, she will become the first deaf director of a professional association of sign language interpreters anywhere in the world.

She said: "This is an important time for the association because of its vision of achieving equality in access to communication for deaf people. I am looking forward to ensuring deaf people are at the forefront of improving standards in sign language interpreting in Scotland."