West Dunbartonshire Council's depute leader has left the SNP for Alex Salmond's new breakaway Alba Party.

Councillor Caroline McAllister announced the move on Sunday and will compete on the West Scotland list in May's Scottish Parliament's elections.

The Leven Ward councillor was elected last year as SNP national women's convener after she was blocked from standing as a candidate for the Dumbarton constituency. 

WDC will now be run by an SNP-minority administration and it is understood a new depute leader for the local authority will be chosen.

Cllr McAllister told our sister paper, The National: "I am delighted to join the Alba Party.

"As the former SNP national women’s convener, I’m really looking forward to working with my colleagues in the Alba Party to ensure women’s rights are front and centre of the new Scottish Parliament I hope to be a member of."

Cllr McAllister joins former SNP leader Mr Salmond and former SNP MPs Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey, former MP Corri Wilson, as well as councillors Chris McEleny and Lynne Anderson, the SNP's national equalities's convener, in joining Alba.

Council leader Jonathan McColl said: "I had an emotional phonecall from Caroline this morning [Sunday].

"We're both good friends as well as colleagues and I know this hasn't been an easy decision for her.

"For now the SNP will operate as a minority administration and Caroline has told me she continues to support our aims and objectives on the council.

"I remain Caroline's friend and wish her well. I look forward to working with her as I work with other non-SNP council colleagues for the benefit of our communities."