A Scottish Labour councillor has been charged with possessing child abuse images.

Moray politician Sean Morton faced four charges relating to indecent images when he appeared in private at Elgin Sheriff Court.

On Wednesday, his party confirmed that he had been suspended with "immediate effect".

The representative for the Fochabers Lhanbryde ward made no plea to the charges and was bailed when he appeared in court on Christmas Eve.

Morton is charged with taking or making a photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child.

He was allegedly found in possession an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child and is accused of "distributing or showing" an indecent photograph.

Morton is also charged with possessing obscene material.

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "Sean Morton has been suspended with immediate effect."

No further court dates have been set.