The SNP would support a Labour government "on an issue by issue basis" if there is a hung parliament, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

With polls tightening ahead of the the general election on June 8, the First Minister said that while she believes Theresa May's Conservatives will still win, it is "no longer inevitable" they will achieve a majority.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he does not want a formal deal with the SNP to lock the Conservatives out of power.

Sturgeon agreed she does not "envisage any formal coalitions" between her party and Corbyn's, but suggested they could team up informally as a "progressive alternative" to a Tory government.

She added Labour supporters in England would be "appalled" at Scottish Labour, who she said seem "more determined to somehow stop the SNP than they are to stop the Tories".

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 on Friday, the First Minister said: "If there was to be a hung parliament, if the parliamentary arithmetic allowed it, then I would want the SNP to be part of a progressive alternative to a Conservative government.

"Not in a coalition - I don't envisage any formal coalitions - but on an issue-by-issue basis to put forward progressive policies and to see a progressive agenda."

Sturgeon said talk of a hung parliament, as in the 2015 general election, meant Scotland was again "taking centre stage" in UK politics.

She added: "I think many people south of the border would be appalled at how Scottish Labour is behaving where they seem to be more determined to somehow stop the SNP than they are to stop the Tories."

STV News reported on Thursday that unionist parties in key Scottish seats are working together to defeat the SNP by tactically limiting campaigning and fielding "paper candidates" to help the best-placed party.

Sturgeon said: "I think it is shameful that Labour appear to be in cahoots with the Tories in Scotland.

"Instead of working to hold a Tory government in check, you have Scottish Labour appearing to be in talks with the Tories or appearing to be in informal arrangements with the Tories to boost a Tory majority.

"I think most people would be appalled at that. As this campaign has gone on, I think more and more people have seen what the consequences of a Tory government with an increased majority would be and they don't like that."

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said there is "no need to negotiate" with the SNP if there is a hung parliament.

She said: "The reality is that in a minority Labour administration situation there would be a Labour budget underpinned by the commitments we have in our manifesto and it would be there and presented for the SNP to either vote for or vote down.

"In that situation, if they vote for it, great that's what will be delivered, if they vote against it we would find ourselves in a position where we would have a Tory government all over again.

"So there is no need to negotiate with the SNP. It is down to them to either live by their anti-austerity credentials that they are so keen to talk about or let the Tories back in."

Nicola Sturgeon would demand a second independence referendum in any deal with Corbyn's Labour party, the Scottish Tories said.

Conservative candidate John Lamont said: "Nicola Sturgeon made it clear today that she'd be happy to form an alliance with Jeremy Corbyn next Friday.

"Top of her shopping list would be a second referendum. And given Mr Corbyn has said he's 'absolutely fine' with this, there is a real risk of them dragging Scotland back to yet more division."

You can find a full list of candidates standing in Scotland for the general election here: