Councillor Ian Miller said here had been no indication that the owners of the chicken processing plant in Coupar Angus, the 2 Sisters Food Group, intended to expand operations at their Cambuslang site, reports The Courier.

The firm announced this week that it would be creating 180 posts at the site, near Glasgow, as part of a "multi-million-pound" expansion.

In November it announced that 200 workers were to be axed from the Coupar Angus site.

Perth and Kinross Council leader Ian Miller said he was disappointed by the latest news: "It’s a fact that planning consent already exists at Coupar Angus for the company to expand and modernise the plant so it’s disappointing to hear that the company is to carry out this expansion elsewhere.

"Obviously they are a major employer in the Coupar Angus area and I am saddened that they are not taking that opportunity.

"The work force will be devastated. This news came as a complete surprise — there’s been no indication from the company that this was their intention."