A Moray councillor who was elected less than a week ago has resigned from his position.

Sandy Cooper, who was elected as an independent, has not given a reason for his decision to stand down.

During the campaign Mr Cooper promised to hand five schools in his council ward of Elgin City North £1000 from his salary if elected to office.

Mr Cooper informed the council's chief executive Roddy Burns of his resignation in a letter on Wednesday.

His decision means a by-election in the ward will now take place.

In his letter to the chief executive, Mr Cooper said: "After careful consideration, I wish to tender my resignation as councillor for Elgin City North ward.

"I apologise most sincerely for the great inconvenience and cost which this will involve. I am most grateful for the help, advice and assistance given by so many members of your staff during my training.

"I wish Moray Council every success in the future."

Graham Leadbitter, co-leader of the Moray SNP group, claimed Mr Cooper's resignation would be "deeply shocking" to locals.

He said: "The result of this is a £25,000 by-election bill to Moray Council and huge frustration for voters who are being asked to go to the polls to elect a councillor just after they thought they had done that.

"Sandy Cooper's election blocked well-respected local SNP representative, Patsy Gowans, from continuing her hard work on Moray Council. That he should resign within only days means there will need to be an unavoidable by-election, which the SNP will contest to win."