A major performing arts venue may have to raise ticket prices in the wake of "devastating" council budget cuts.

Eden Court's grant was slashed by around £100,000 in Highland Council's latest budget, announced on Thursday.

The cinema and theatre in Inverness said the loss means it may have to increase ticket prices, charge charities and performing groups more and cut autism-friendly screenings.

Classes may also have to be cut at the venue, which runs the largest arts education programme of any theatre in the UK.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Eden Court said: "We were expecting a cut of 10%, in line with the cut to many other funded organisations and which the council had asked us to plan for.

"We are surprised and devastated at this unexpected decision. Because it has come without any warning and because we operate on tight budgets we don't yet know what the effect will be.

"Eden Court contributes at least £6m to the Highland economy each year. This takes no account of our undoubted positive influence on tourism and inward investment.

"Even a small drop in this contribution to our region's economy will outweigh the saving made by Highland Council."

Eden Court said council funding for its arts education programme already fell £90,000 short before the latest cuts.

It added: "A 10% cut would have been tough but we could probably have coped by making some difficult changes. With Highland Council taking an extra £41,000 on top of this it's hard to see how we can absorb this cut without harming the local community."

Eden Court is 80% self-funded, with the remaining 20% contributed by Creative Scotland and Highland Council.