The SNP has called for a separate evening news television broadcast for Scotland.

Media spokesman Pete Wishart has written to Andrew Flanagan, chief executive of STV, calling on him to offer a national and international six o'clock news service.

The BBC has previously rejected calls for such a service, citing a lack of demand. 

Wishart said: "Here is a real opportunity for the rebranded STV to steal a march on the BBC's metropolitan director general, and offer the publicly popular option of a Scottish six.

"It is also an opportunity to allay concerns about STV's merger on regional programming and the service rural and isolated communities will receive.

"STV have the experience and the talent to offer a national and international Scottish news service which could accurately reflect the cultural and political life of Scotland.

"This is a service whose time has come. How much longer will Scottish viewers have to pay for irrelevant or disproportionate news coverage, which has little or nothing to do with everyday life in Scotland?

"It is ironic that the BBC's metropolitan governors deny this since BBC Radio Scotland already offers an authoritative news service. If we are capable of running our own radio news, why do they not think their own staff are also capable of doing so on television?

"I am absolutely certain that a 'Scottish six' would quickly become the leader and dominate early evening news in Scotland. STV have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I hope they go for it."