A second independence referendum is not a condition for the SNP to back a minority Labour government, Nicola Sturgeon has indicated.

The First Minister said the right to hold a second vote was an "absolute expectation" she would have ahead of any cooperation with Jeremy Corbyn's party in the event of a hung parliament.

She fell short of demanding backing for the referendum from Labour as a price of SNP support, however, and said her MPs would vote "issue by issue" and to end austerity.

It comes as recent polls have shown a tightening of the race between Theresa May's Conservatives and Labour ahead of the general election, with some pollsters suggesting the Tories could lose their majority.

Corbyn has vowed Labour will do "no deals" with the SNP if there is a hung parliament.

Speaking during an interview with STV News, Sturgeon said she believes the Conservatives are still on course to win on June 8 but added it is "not inevitable" they will increase their share of seats.

Asked if getting into an "issue by issue" arrangement with a Labour minority government would be predicated upon support for a fresh independence referendum, Sturgeon said: "SNP MPs wouldn't vote against the end of austerity as a condition of an independence referendum."

When pressed on if this meant the SNP would allow Labour to block a referendum, the First Minister replied: "SNP MPs would vote issue by issue for what we thought was right.

"But I would expect any Prime Minister, whether Labour or Tory, to respect the will of the Scottish people and the will of the Scottish Parliament."

She earlier emphasised that if the SNP win the general election in Scotland it will be in addition to the party's victory in the Holyrood election last year during which they pledged to press for a second independence vote in the event of a "material change" like Brexit.

This was followed by a vote in the Scottish Parliament in March supporting plans for a second referendum.

May has dismissed these demands, saying "now is not the time" for a fresh independence ballot in Scotland.

Corbyn says he opposes a second referendum but would not block one as Prime Minister "if the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish people want it".

The First Minister told STV News: "Respecting the will of the Scottish people and the Scottish Parliament would be an absolute expectation that I would have of any cooperation.

"But let's get back to reality here - the likelihood of this election and outcome of this election is that the Tories are going to win. But it's not inevitable that they have a bigger majority.

"So the real choice facing Scotland on Thursday is do we contribute to boosting Theresa May's majority or do we send strong SNP MPs to the House of Commons?"

An STV poll conducted last week with Ipsos MORI suggested the SNP are on course to hold 50 of the 56 seats the party won in the 2015 general election - which could make Sturgeon's party kingmakers if there is a hung parliament.

But a Survation poll on Sunday put the SNP on 40% - a three-point fall on its previous survey - a figure which the Scotland Votes seat predictor suggests could translate into the loss of ten seats, mostly to the Tories.