Police Scotland has scrapped its controversial £60m IT project.

The i6 project was branded the "largest and most significant transformational change" ever undertaken by the force and was set to replace 135 existing IT and paper-based systems for around 20,000 officers and staff.

The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) announced on Friday that after lengthy talks with the national force and the firm asked to provide the changes, a decision had been made to end the contract.

John Foley, chief executive of the SPA, said the decision was made to scrap the project because it cannot be delivered "within expected time frames and budget".

The SPA also said the decision to end the contract "results in no financial detriment to the police budget".

Earlier this year, the Holyrood justice committee was told the firm contracted to deliver the IT system for had "very clearly" let the force down.

Multiple faults were found when Accenture handed over the i6 programme to Police Scotland despite the firm's claims it had been thoroughly tested, Holyrood's justice sub-committee on policing was told.

Police said a review will now take place to avoid a repeat and work is under way to deliver a "sustainable policing model supported by modern technology."

Deputy chief constable Iain Livingstone said: "After lengthy discussions between Police Scotland, the SPA, and the supplier Accenture, a settlement has been mutually agreed to end the i6 contract. The terms of the agreement are commercially confidential.

"While the delivery of the i6 solution will now not go ahead, we are committed to delivering a sustainable policing model supported by modern technology and will work with the Scottish Police Authority to ensure this is delivered in the most efficient and effective way."

John Foley, chief executive of the SPA said: "The Scottish Police Authority (SPA), Police Scotland and Accenture have mutually agreed to end their contract relating to the i6 project. The decision comes following a detailed review of the programme, led by the SPA, which considered alternative options and was supported by Accenture.

"Despite the best efforts of the SPA, Police Scotland and Accenture, it was clear that the technical solution cannot be delivered within expected time frames and budget.

"The decision has therefore been taken to end the contract and reconsider options for securing a sustainable IT solution for policing.

"While we are disappointed that i6 will not be delivered as expected, the SPA believes the decision to end the contract at this time is the right one. We would seek to reassure the public and our workforce that the output of i6 was only one element of our overall ICT plans.

"We have not stood still while awaiting delivery of i6 and we remain committed to delivering a sustainable policing model supported by modern technology."