Scottish party leaders have clashed over the conduct of the justice secretary in the wake of the resignation of Phil Gormley as Police Scotland's chief constable.

Gormley's decision to quit on Wednesday in the face of five separate misconduct allegations against him means Scotland's national police force is seeking a third chief in five years.

Justice secretary Michael Matheson has come under scrutiny in recent weeks for intervening in a decision last year by the former chairman of Scotland's police watchdog to reinstate Gormley.

Speaking at First Minister's Questions on Thursday, Ruth Davidson also highlighted Matheson's role in appointing the new chairwoman of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) Susan Deacon in November.

The Scottish Conservative leader said it was an "obvious flaw" to have the minister in charge of the appointment process for the independent police oversight body.

Scottish Labour's Richard Leonard reiterated previous opposition calls for Matheson to leave his post, asking Nicola Sturgeon if she would "find a new justice secretary".

The First Minister defended Matheson's actions related to the departed Police Scotland chief, saying that he behaved "entirely appropriately" and asked questions of the SPA's process which "could not be answered".

Andrew Flanagan, then-chairman of the SPA, had attempted in November 2017 to have the former chief constable return to active duty.

Gormley had been on special leave from September until his resignation from the force.