Nick Clegg has called on Tory and Labour supporters to vote tactically in an effort to stop Alex Salmond returning to Westminster.

Mr Clegg said only his party is capable of preventing the former SNP leader taking the chance to "strut his stuff" on the Westminster stage and potentially keep a "hapless" minority Labour administration on "life support" in a vote-by-vote deal.

He urged voters across Scotland to put aside traditional party allegiances to support his colleagues in seats where the Lib Dems are facing an SNP challenge.

The Lib Dems face a major battle in Scotland, with high-profile names including Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander facing the prospect of being ousted by the SNP surge.