Moray Council administration talks ongoing

Negotiations over the future leadership of Moray Council are ongoing after the SNP earlier said it would try to form a minority administration.

The authority was run by a coalition of Conservatives and independents, until seven of the party's members walked away from the administration.

The SNP said talks had failed to lead to a rainbow coalition involving independents and Labour.

However, it is thought a deal could still be possible.

SNP co-leader Graham Leadbitter had said that, after holding talks, the SNP had submitted a motion aimed at forming a minority administration.

However, he later said the situation was fluid, but was hopeful an agreement could be reached ahead of Wednesday's meeting of the full council.

And council leader George Alexander told BBC Scotland he and other independents were still hopeful a deal could be reached to avoid a minority administration.

The Conservatives said the earlier decision followed years of Scottish government cuts to the council's budget which had brought the council to the brink of bankruptcy.

Seven of the eight Conservatives withdrew, with convener James Allan remaining.

It left an administration group of five independents and the convener.