Jobs are under threat at a Ministry of Defence missile test site in the Western Isles.

Nine positions have already been axed and another seven are believed to be at risk at the Hebrides Range on South Uist.

The affected staff are security guards, cleaners, stewards and administrators sub-contracted to QinetiQ, a private firm which runs the range for the MoD.

It is handing back part of the barracks at the range and has refurbished another accommodation block which requires fewer staff to run.

Elior, a catering and cleaning subcontractor, has cut nine jobs, while a redundancy consultation is under way at subcontractor Mitie.

Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil said: "The Hebrides Range is the largest employer in Uist and any job losses will have a huge impact on the economy.

"Having tabled a series of questions with the MoD, it is clear that they are quite happy to shift the responsibility for these jobs on to QinetiQ and their sub-contractor.

"I have contacted QinetiQ to request information about jobs at the Hebrides Range."

The MoD has spent about £60m modernising facilities at the Hebrides Range.

A US warship destroyed a missile fired into space from South Uist in a UK first during war games in 2015.