Scottish Labour has claimed that the SNP government is responsible for a "staggering" drop in support staff in Scottish classrooms.

Scottish Government figures published last December showed schools across the country had 19,743 support workers in 2015 compared to 24,106 in 2007, a drop of 18%.

The reduction in staffing numbers worked out at an average of 10 fewer support staff per week according to Scottish Labour, who described the cuts as "completely short-sighted".

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson said that the figures represented poor progress on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's pledge to close the attainment gap in schools.

He said: "These are staggering numbers of key jobs lost in our schools. The SNP say that education is their top priority but you can't cut the gap between the richest and the rest in our classrooms whilst cutting support staff."

The figures also indicated that the number of library staff in schools has decreased by 27%, while there are 24% fewer classroom technicians since the SNP came to power in 2007.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has previously pledged to provide additional funding for education by raising the basic rate of income tax by 1p and reintroducing a 50p top rate of tax for the highest earners.

Mr Johnson continued: "Education is the single most important economic investment a government can make, we should be investing in these jobs, not scrapping them.

"That's why Scottish Labour will introduce amendments to the Scottish budget for a 50p top rate of tax and a penny for public services to stop the cuts and invest instead.

"The SNP faces a choice: it can pass on an austerity budget from the Tories in Westminster or it can use the new tax powers of the Scottish Parliament to stop the cuts and invest in schools instead."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "These staff census figures were first published in December 2015.

"Local authorities determine the requirements for their schools, including the recruitment and deployment of staff, taking into account local needs.

"We have taken action to maintain teacher numbers and committed £88m this year to make sure every school has access to the right number of teachers."