An East Lothian Labour party candidate in this week's council election has had party support withdrawn over social media posts.
Student Ruaridh Bennett was standing for Scottish Labour in the county's biggest town of Musselburgh.
However it is understood complaints over historic tweets by the young candidate were raised with Scottish Labour and sparked the decision to withdraw support.
READ MORE: East Lothian Council election 2022: Musselburgh healthcare issues top the agenda
Despite the decision, Ruaridh , who is in his early twenties, will still appear on the ballot papers as a Labour candidate as the announcement was made too late to change it and people will not be informed of the change ahead of casting their votes.
A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: "The elections team were notified by the Labour Party agent that the party support had been withdrawn.
"If he (Ruaridh) has the votes he would still be elected but would be as an Independent."
There is no obligation on polling station staff to inform voters of the change and the East Lothian Labour Party's website has not been updated to acknowledge the change.
Ruaridh's Twitter social media page has been taken down and no longer exists.
The decision to withdraw support is a blow to the minority Labour administration's campaign to return to power in East Lothian.
It has only fielded ten candidates across all six East Lothian wards despite needing 11 to take overall control of the council - now it only has nine.
Labour leaflets handed out in Musselburgh urge voters to give first time candidate Ruaridh the first vote and veteran Labour councillor Andrew Forrest, who is defending his seat, the second vote on the ballot slip.
Both Scottish Labour party and East Lothian Labour party have been asked to comment.
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