Both Yes and No voters are "sick to the back teeth" of plans for a second independence referendum, Labour's Kezia Dugdale has said.

Launching the party's election campaign for the council elections next month, the Scottish Labour leader said SNP constituencies feel "left behind" by the Scottish Government's focus on independence.

She also warned Scots who vote Conservative as a protest against independence will be putting local services at risk.

Leading Tories have been calling on voters to use the election on May 4 to send a message to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon not to hold a second Scottish independence referendum.

Speaking at the campaign launch in Edinburgh, Ms Dugdale said: "Communities which have voted SNP since 2011 feel left behind by a Scottish Government that is only interested in running another referendum.

"It doesn't matter whether they voted yes or no. People are sick to the back teeth of it."

She accused the SNP using the referendum to "distract" voters from its "poor" record in government, adding: "The SNP doesn't want to talk about education, social care and other failed services because it knows it's failing. So we are back discussing a referendum."

Ms Dugdale, whose party is third in the polls behind the Scottish Conservatives, said Labour is the "last line of defence between the people and the SNP's cuts".

She said: "We can't afford for our councils to turn into another arm of the SNP Government in Edinburgh and neither do we want to turn our town halls over to the Tories."

She continued: "Voting in this election isn't a protest vote. Your vote in this election really matters.

"If you vote for the Tories, you are voting for them to be in power - to take control of your council services. Not to be in opposition or to protest against independence.

"So before you vote, think about whether you want a Tory in charge of elderly care, social services and schools. This is a party itching to cut even more money from our valued public services."

She criticised Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson's backing of the "abhorrent rape clause" as showing the "ruthless" true nature of the Tories.

Changes brought in by the Conservatives at Westminster mean women claiming tax credits for a third or subsequent child have to prove they became pregnant as a result of a rape or while in a coercive relationship in order to qualify for the payments.

Ms Dugdale's campaign launch came minutes after the Prime Minister announced a snap election for June 8 and the Labour leader said she would "work tirelessly" to deliver a Labour government with Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw responded: "This is desperate stuff from Kezia Dugdale. She and her party are heading for an electoral disaster on May 4. Judging from these comments, they are already in panic mode."

He said only his party could be trusted to stand up to the SNP and the plan for a second referendum.