The First Minister has described the leaking of information about the Manchester bombing investigation to members of the media by US intelligence sources as "unacceptable".

Nicola Sturgeon said the leaks "cannot be defended in any way, shape or form".

Throughout the investigation, American intelligence sources have leaked information given to them by their counterparts in the UK to media organisations.

The UK and other Western powers share intelligence about terrorism and conventional state threats with each other.

One leak from the US sources led to the publication in the New York Times of the blood stained detonator and pieces of shrapnel spewed out by the bomb.

Sturgeon made the comments in response to a question by Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie at First Minister's Questions on Thursday.

The SNP leader said: "The ability of countries to share intelligence and to share intelligence confidentially and securely is one of the things which helps keep us safe.

"The importance of that and the importance of having trusted arrangements in place such as through the Five Eyes system cannot be overestimated.

"I do share the anger and disbelief of the UK Government that we have seen very sensitive details from this ongoing live leaked to the media in America. That is completely unacceptable.

"All of us should make clear that is unacceptable and cannot be defended in any way, shape or form."

The First Minister added: "I know they will have taken this decision with regret but I think the UK Government is to, hopefully only for a short period, stop sharing intelligence with the American government."

Police authorities in the UK have decided to stop sharing information about the US investigation to their counterparts in agencies such as the FBI.

It is not thought that MI5, MI6 and GCHQ have ceased passing on intelligence to the CIA.

The Prime Minister has promised to confront US president Donald Trump over the matter at a Nato summit later on Thursday.

"Intelligence that is shared between our law enforcement agencies must remain secure," May said before leaving for the summit in Brussels.