Saudi Arabia is to allow women to vote and stand as candidates in council elections, according to local media reports.

The Council of Ministers has approved legislation that would allow females to take part in upcoming municipal council elections, according to Arab News.

Women could not vote or stand as candidates in the 2011 election but Saudi ruler King Abdullah has ordered that women should be allowed to take part in the elections from 2015.

Saudi Arabia has strict laws based on Islam, which include many restrictions on women, such as not being allowed to drive or interact with men who are not related to them.