The SNP ruling administration at Clackmannanshire Council has resigned after the Labour group pushed through a series of changes to council procedures.

Labour's proposed amendments to the council's standing orders were passed at a full council meeting on Thursday with the help of Tory councillor Alistair Campbell.

The SNP group had previously relied on independent councillor Archie Drummond to command a majority but Mr Drummond was suspended in April for six months for breaching the councillors' code of conduct.

The changes to standing orders included ensuring the convenership of resources and audit committee is given to the opposition and allowing the council to decide who takes committee positions when vacancies arise.

The SNP group said the passing of the Labour motion showed the SNP were "unable to command a majority" and had "no alternative" but to resign.

SNP group leader Les Sharp said: "The Labour/Tory block vote to such a fundamental matter as the council's standing orders has made it clear that the SNP are unable to command a majority on Clackmannanshire Council and had no alternative other than to resign administration with immediate effect.

"It is vital that an administration has a degree of control over appointments and without that it is impossible to proceed. It is now over to the Labour group to try and form a majority.

"In the interests of the people of Clackmannanshire, we were willing to proceed with the meeting to take decisions on the important matters on today's agenda, however, we were once again outvoted by what looks set to become a regular Labour/Tory alliance."

The Labour proposals were passed by nine votes to eight.

Labour group leader Bobby McGill told the Alloa Advertiser he was "shocked" by the SNP group's decision.

McGill said: "I'm shocked and it's not the way folk do things. I mean, if you're in charge of a council you represent the people - you've got an obligation to keep the business going.

"I'm just so angry with them for what they've done - they've let the people of Clackmannanshire down as far as I'm concerned. It's a disgrace."

In 2012, the Labour administration was toppled in a confidence vote after an independent councillor switched support from Labour to the SNP.

There will now need to be a special council meeting to determine what happens next.

A Clackmannanshire Council spokesman said: "At this morning's meeting of council, the SNP group resigned its administration.

"This means that at the moment there is no formal political leadership of the council in that the positions of provost, depute provosts, leader, depute leader and those convenorships previously held by the SNP group are vacant.

"A special meeting of council will be convened in due course seeking councillors to fill the vacated positions."