Spanish court suspends Catalan referendum

A controversial referendum has been stopped by the Spanish Constitutional Court following an appeal from the prime minister.

Catalan MPs celebrate after voting to have a referendum on whether or not to be independent from Spain. Source: AAP

The Spanish Constitutional Court has suspended a referendum law that was approved by the Catalan parliament, blocking the way for an October 1 ballot on independence from Spain, a court source says.

The law will be suspended while judges consider arguments that the vote breaches the country's constitution.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said earlier on Thursday he had appealed to the court to declare the referendum illegal. The constitution states Spain is indivisible.