The SNP spent more than £35,000 hiring a helicopter to fly Nicola Sturgeon around Scotland in the run-up to the General Election.

The Electoral Commission watchdog has published details of all the main parties's spending.

Across the UK, the Conservatives spent £15,587,956;

Labour £12,087,340; the Liberal Democrats £3,529,106; Ukip £2,851,465, the SNP £1,475,478 and the Green Party £1,131,018.

The SNP declared a £35,450 bill for helicopter flights on April 30, and May 1, 2 and 4, just days before the poll.

The maroon Eurocopter Dauphin was covered with the First Minister's image and the SNP's “Stronger for Scotland” slogan.

Ms Sturgeon used it for a whistle-stop tour of key seats over the bank holiday weekend before the election.

It was hired by the SNP from Inverness-based PDG Helicopters, according to the Electoral Commission.