A mental health charity will not tender to provide services for Aberdeenshire Council over safety concerns.

Mental Health Aberdeen said it had been forced into the move after the local authority announced it would spend 25% less on the services.

Up to 26 jobs are now at risk as the eight sites across the area, including Inverurie and Banff, face closure next January.

Mental Health Aberdeen chief executive Astrid Whyte said it had reached the decision not to tender for the service after assessing the impact of the council's redesign.

She told STV News: "Our predominant reason was one of safety for service users, safety for staff and safety for volunteers.

"We don't think the current service spec, as is written, adequately provides for our service users - there are too many people who are going to be disqualified.

"The council is asking very clearly for people with only moderate to severe mental illness to be seen. That's quite a change."

Ms Whyte added: "They are also asking us to take in autism, which is quite a specific area of work we don't currently cover, and acquired brain injury patients.

"It's the lower end, people who are less severely unwell, they are the ones who will lose out. We are extremely worried about them because they do need these services to maintain their mental wellbeing."

The council said its revamped service would be aimed at tackling the perception of mental health sufferers.

A spokesman said: "Aberdeenshire Council requires a mental health service which promotes the achievement of mentally well and inclusive communities in which people who experience mental ill health are enabled to recover and achieve their personal outcomes.

"We therefore invited organisations to tender to provide equitable services in north, central and south Aberdeenshire, supporting those recovering from mental illness and helping them to participate in ordinary mainstream social, leisure, educational, and cultural activities alongside other members of the community.

"Part of the service requirement will be to work with Aberdeenshire Council and partners to reduce stigma around mental health and promoting local events/activities that support recovery.

"We also want to provide a counselling service which people can be referred to. Following a successful tendering exercise it is envisaged the new services will start on January 1, 2017."​