Trust in the Liberal Democrats has hit "rock bottom" after five years of the UK coalition Government, the First Minister has said.

Nicola Sturgeon called on disillusioned Lib Dem voters to back the SNP in May's general election as she opened a party campaign hub in East Dunbartonshire.

Pointing to recent polls putting support for the Lib Dems at just 5%, Ms Sturgeon said the party was paying for promises broken as a coalition partner.

She said: "As the polls show the Lib Dems heading for obscurity, my message to disillusioned former Lib Dem voters is this: the SNP is here for you.

"After five years in government propping up the toxic Tories, all Nick Clegg and his party have to show is a trail of broken promises. On austerity, tuition fees, Trident renewal, Lords reform, and the NHS, they have backtracked and abandoned their principles. It is no wonder trust in the Lib Dems is at rock bottom.

"Unlike the Lib Dems, we have made clear we would never prop up a Tory Government."

In contrast Ms Sturgeon said the SNP had stood by a pledge to scrap tuition fees and made a "compelling case" for an alternative to austerity.

SNP MPs in a hung parliament would fight to protect Scotland's budget and stop the renewal of Trident, she added.

The First Minister said: "Left to their own devices, the Westminster parties would plough on with a failed austerity agenda with £30 billion more cuts - while continuing to waste £100 billion on Trident renewal.

"The Lib Dems' abysmal record speaks for itself - by contrast, a vote for the SNP is for a party that has the key goal of representing the people of Scotland."

A Scottish Liberal Democrat spokeswoman said: "With taxes down, pensions up, more childcare and the economy in recovery, Scotland has seen the benefit of Liberal Democrats.

"We hold the other parties back when they go too far.

"The SNP have taken their eye off the ball on day to day services to focus on independence. As a result the NHS went into crisis, cancer waiting times were missed and college courses were slashed.

"In so many seats across Scotland people are backing the local Liberal Democrats to stop the SNP."