A fish processing plant is to close with the loss of around 250 jobs, its owners have announced.

The Edinburgh Salmon Company in Dingwall, in the Highlands, will cease production at the end of the year with all employees being laid off.

Owners Européenne de la Mer said it regretted the closure but in the face of challenging markets the plant was suffering "heavy losses".

It is thought that around 160 full-time staff and 100 agency workers are employed at the site.

A spokeswoman for Européenne de la Mer said: "Following our announcement on 27th September 2018 of the proposed sale and/or closure of The Edinburgh Salmon Company Ltd (ESCo) in Dingwall, Scotland, we regret to announce that no feasible alternative solution to closure was found during collective consultation. As a result, the company will cease production at the end of the year.

"At this time, our primary concern is the future of our employees and we are now entering into an individual consultation process with each of them.

"We are making every possible effort to support them in their search for alternative employment.

"We are exploring all opportunities and are working with the Scottish Government and local enterprise and skills agencies to identify employment options in the local area."