A director in one of Scotland’s biggest local authorities who was suspended amid a row over inaccurate teaching numbers has resigned.

A spokesman for North Lanarkshire Council confirmed Andrew Sutherland had quit and said he did not receive a pay-off.

However, local SNP councillor Michael Coyle defended the official, saying: "My workings and dealings with him have been excellent. I think he has been made a scapegoat."

The council serves around 340,000 people and includes Airdrie, Motherwell, Wishaw, Coatbridge and Cumbernauld.

In common with other local authorities, North Lanarkshire has seen pressure on teacher numbers as councils struggle to balance the books.

The council’s official figures show that the teacher total was 3,465 in 2015 – down from 3,523 from the previous year.

However, it was revealed in November that the council was investigating claims about the accuracy of the data.

Sutherland, who earned around £115,000 a year as executive director of learning and leisure services, was named as the official at the centre of the probe.

At the time, the council said: “We can confirm that the executive director of learning and leisure services has been suspended pending an internal investigation.

“The investigation concerns the maintenance and accuracy of data on numbers of teaching staff.”

It was then reported that the council had clarified the 2014 number.

That year's figure had originally been 3,615, but was corrected to 3,523 - a drop of 92 classroom staff.

An email from chief executive Paul Jukes was sent to senior council figures on Thursday confirming Sutherland’s departure.

Jukes wrote that he had “accepted” the official’s resignation.

Sutherland used to be director of education at Falkirk council, head of schools at East Ayrshire council, and a teacher in Aberdeenshire.

Central Scotland MSP John Wilson said: "The resignation of Andrew Sutherland and the allegedly false teacher figures require further scrutiny and investigation. His resignation comes at a time of several senior council officials taking early retirement within six months of the appointment of the new chief executive Paul Jukes. It is worrying at a time of austerity that money is being used to top up pension pots to allow senior staff to retire early."

A council spokesperson said: “North Lanarkshire Council can confirm that Andrew Sutherland, the Executive Director of Learning and Leisure Services has resigned from his post and is no longer an employee of the Council. The Council will not issue any further comment on this confidential employment matter.”