The Scottish Government has approached the European Commission for a four-month extension to the farm payment deadline for a second year in a row.

The devolved administration confirmed the move after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon faced questions at Holyrood on Thursday from Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson.

A European Commission source has told STV News the Scottish Government want the deadline moved from June 30 to October 15.

He added: "This request will be considered within the terms of the legislation.

"In the meantime, the Commission encourages the Scottish authorities to accelerate the execution of payments before the June 30 deadline."

Davidson described the government's handling of the payment system as a "disgrace".

All Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments must be processed before the June 30 deadline or the Scottish Government may face multi-million pound fines.

Figures published last week showed as of June 15 there were 5861 payments waiting to be processed yet the Scottish Government's £178m IT system was only getting through 895 a week on average.

Last year the deadline was moved as "an exceptional measure" by the EU but the Scottish Government still faces financial penalties for its late payments.

Ministers estimate the Commission will issue a fine of around £5m but watchdog Audit Scotland last week warned "our updated assessment suggests penalties of up to £60m are possible".

In a briefing to journalists, Sturgeon's spokesman said: "There has been contact at an official level about the deadline and the possibility of an extension."

He added: "As the First Minister made clear, there are contingencies in place and we will make sure contingencies are in place if needed.

"The priority remains getting the outstanding payments processed and paid by the deadline."

Davidson said: "It's a disgrace that so many farmers are still waiting for payments, and it looks like - for the second year running - the SNP is going to have to go cap-in-hand to Europe and ask for special treatment.

"This all has a massive knock-on impact for the wider rural economy.

"It's no wonder rural communities have completely lost trust in the SNP."