Scottish council election: Council control talks get under way

Talks are expected to begin across Scotland to work out who will form ruling administrations at most councils, following the 2012 elections.

The SNP gained most seats across the 32 authorities, but a strong Labour performance saw the party take control of Glasgow and become the largest party in Edinburgh.

Labour has an outright majority on four councils, while the SNP controls two.

But across much of the country, no one party managed to secure a majority.

Independents held on to Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles Council - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

It may take several days before it becomes clear who is in power in each of the 23 councils with no party in overall control.

The SNP has claimed overall victory in the elections based on updated projections of voting share.

After 32 of 32 councils declared

More detailed results & map

According to the party's calculations, compounded from near-final data, the SNP just pipped Labour in popular support with 32.7% to 31.5% of the vote. The Conservatives are placed third on 13.3% and the Liberal Democrats fourth on 6.4%.

The SNP took the largest number of councillors.

Labour has also claimed victory and is in the lead in the largest number of councils.

The Liberal Democrat vote collapsed, with the most high-profile upset coming when Edinburgh leader, Lib Dem Jenny Dawe, lost her seat.

The Tories also lost seats, but the Greens boosted their tally to 14.

Labour won an overall majority in Glasgow, denying the SNP one of its top targets, to claim victory in the city.

Speaking on a visit to congratulate new councillors from Dundee and Angus, where the SNP claimed its historic first overall majorities, party leader Alex Salmond said: "On every indicator, the SNP has had its best ever council result.

"We have more councillors and more gains than any other party - doubling our seats advantage over Labour.

"We have become the largest party in more councils across Scotland - including our first ever overall majorities.

"And we also look set to have won the overall share of the vote in a local government election for the first time in our history."

The results came after people went to the polls on Thursday, to vote for more than 1,200 councillors.

The SNP won 424 seats across Scotland, while Labour came second with 394, on a day when both parties increased their number of seats.

The Conservatives ended on a total of 115, down 16 seats, but the Liberal Democrats had the worst day out of the main parties, losing 80 seats to finish on 71.

Key results included: