North Sea job cuts have slowed as confidence in the industry has grown, according to a new survey.

More than a third of contractors (38%) reportedly feel confident about the future; the best result since 2012.

Just over half of businesses (52%) asked believe the worst of the downturn has already passed, the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) annual survey found.

Industry experts predicted 120,000 people would have lost their jobs in the UK's oil industry by the end of 2016.

The rate of redundancies appears to have slowed, however, as the price of Brent Crude recovers.

AGCC chief executive Russell Borthwick said the results show "green shoots are visible".

Oil firms reported a 2.5% reduction in their UK staff in the 12 months to March 2017, compared to a 15% reduction in the year leading up to October 2016.

But Mr Borthwick said: "Much of the anecdotal feedback we received highlighted concern in terms of the political environment and indicated that the additional uncertainty around Brexit and the prospect of a second independence referendum could be having an impact on investment."

The survey, carried out in collaboration with Strathclyde University's Fraser of Allander Institute, covered the period from November 2016 to April 2017.

At this time, the price of a barrel of oil hovered at around $50 - half the price fetched in 2014.