Monarch of the Glen painting to remain in Scotland after donations

Sir Edwin Landseer's famous Monarch of the Glen painting will remain in Scotland after a £4 million fundraising campaign.

One of the most recognisable paintings of Scotland was to be sold by drinks giant Diageo but a fundraising bid attracted donations from around the world to save the painting.

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The National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) said public donations totalled more than £260,000 and came from as far as Hong Kong and Los Angeles, the BBC reports.

A total of £2.65 million came from the biggest donor, the Heritage Lottery Fund, after the fundraising bid was launched in February.

Sir John Leighton, director-general of the National Galleries of Scotland, thanked the fundraisers and told the Guardian: "We are thrilled that we have been able to secure this iconic work for the national collection.

"The enormous support from the public has been incredible with donations coming from all over the world and from the length and breadth of Scotland and the rest of the UK."

The painting was on loan to the National Museum of Scotland for the past 17 years. It will be hung in the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh before going on tour in Scotland.

It was painted in 1851 and features a Highlands red deer stag.