Up to 80,000 jobs in Scotland could be put at risk if the UK Government pursues a "hard" Brexit, according to a new report.

Researchers at Strathclyde University's Fraser of Allander Institute looked at different scenarios for the economic impact of leaving the EU on Scotland over a ten-year period.

They concluded the most severe impact would come under a World Trade Organisation (WTO) model, which would apply if other deals could not be secured.

This would result in the UK being subject to WTO rules for international trade.

Under this model, researchers said Scottish GDP would be more than 5% (or £8bn in 2015-16 terms) lower than would otherwise be the case and exports down by more than 11% after around 10 years.

Real wages would decrease by 7%, equivalent to around £2000 per year for someone on average full-time earnings, while the number of people employed was forecast to be 3% lower - representing around 80,000 jobs.

The most optimistic scenario was the Norway model, under which the UK would have membership of the European Economic Area and full access to the single market but be outside the customs union.

This would still result in Scottish GDP being between 2% and 3% lower after 10 years, however, with a 1% to 2% reduction in the employment level, equivalent to the loss of at least 30,000 jobs.

The report also concluded the impact of Brexit on the economy of the rest of the UK would be more severe, with an increase in net migration into Scotland from other parts of the country as a result of the shock acting as a "cushion" north of the border.

Researchers have called for a focus on sectors that have close trading links with the EU such as food, drink and some manufacturing sectors to fully understand the issues they face.

Professor Graeme Roy, director of the Fraser of Allander Institute, said: "This report provides the first detailed assessment of the possible impact of Brexit on the Scottish economy.

"It shows that, under all modelled scenarios, Brexit is likely to have a significant negative impact on the Scottish economy.

"The range of possible outcomes is driven by the nature of any post-Brexit relationship between the UK and the EU - the weaker the economic integration with the EU, the greater the negative impact."

The report was prepared for Holyrood's Europe and external relations committee, which is conducting an inquiry on the implications for Scotland of the EU referendum.

Committee convener Joan McAlpine said: "This report paints a grim picture of Scotland's economy ten years after Brexit.

"Our committee has already found that maintaining access to the single market is key for business and industry in Scotland.

"If the UK Government leads us into a 'hard' Brexit, the evidence presented in this report indicates that there could be disastrous consequences for jobs, exports and production."

Liberal Democrat MSP Tavish Scott said: "This report demonstrates the recklessness of the hard line position on Brexit that the Tories adopted at their conference this week.

"If Ruth Davidson's colleagues get their way then we would see skilled migrants leaving the country in their droves and jobs lost across the UK."

The Scottish Conservatives said the Scottish Government should not "whine from the sidelines".

The party's shadow economy secretary Dean Lockhart said: "No one doubts the impact of Brexit will be challenging on a range of levels.

"However, this report also makes clear that the impact on Scotland will be comparatively less than the rest of the UK.

"So the SNP's go-to excuse for Scottish economic underperformance has been completely blown out the water.

"That should focus minds in the Scottish Government to work hard to get a positive result for Scotland in the negotiations and not merely whine from the sidelines."

Labour said it was "vital" that both Scotland and the UK retained access to the single market.

Scottish Labour economy spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: "This report shows the cost of the Tories' reckless Brexit gamble and how vital it is that Scotland, and indeed the whole UK, retains access to the single market.

"When Theresa May hinted at a hard Brexit earlier this week, sterling crashed to a 31-year low. Even the most blinkered of Brexiteers cannot ignore the huge risk this poses to our economy. "

Ross Greer, Scottish Green MSP, said: "Scotland voted to remain in Europe yet we face devastating cuts to wages and huge job losses from the reckless actions of the Westminster government.

"That same government is now intent on turning away those who have chosen to live here and contribute to our economy, which can only inflict more damage."

He added: "Every avenue must be explored to keep Scotland in Europe and protect the right to free movement and that has to include a referendum on independence."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "What this report confirms is what the Scottish Government has been saying since June - that the threat of being taken out of Europe poses huge risks to Scotland's economy.

"Analysis shows that taking Scotland out of the European Union and our place in the world's biggest single market is projected to cost the Scottish economy up to £11.2bn per year by 2030.

"We will continue to act to make Scotland as competitive as possible and our first priority is working towards maintaining our relationship with the EU, along with all the benefits that brings, not least continued membership of the single market."

A UK Government spokesman said it was "premature" to start drawing conclusion.

He added: "As the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Scotland have said, the UK Government will seek a bespoke deal that will bring new opportunities.

"As the report itself recognises, we have not begun negotiating our exit from the EU, so it seems very premature to draw conclusions from some highly speculative models. We are determined to get the best deal possible for the whole of the UK in the negotiations."