A fresh bid has been made to save an historic biscuit factory in Glasgow's east end from closure.
Confectionary giant Pladis intends to shut the century-old Victoria biscuit works in Tollcross, which is famous for producing the McVitie's brand of biscuits, by the end of 2022.
More than 450 people stand to lose their job if the closure goes ahead.
Originally founded in Edinburgh as far back as 1830, McVitie's was purchased by United Biscuits in 1948 and was eventually bought over by the Turkish confectionary conglomerate Yildiz - of which Pladis is a UK subsidiary.
Finance secretary Kate Forbes met again with trade unions and Glasgow City Council to review the business case put forward by the company to identify potential alternatives to site closure and has written to Pladis’ outlining proposals.
Forbes said: “We have had another positive discussion with trade unions, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and Clyde Gateway.
"The group has considered alternatives to site closure, and I have written to Pladis with an overview of our proposals. Everyone remains absolutely focused on the task ahead, and we will continue to pursue every opportunity to secure the future of the site.”
Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken said: “The council is continuing in discussions with Pladis to look at all the options that can safeguard the jobs of the workers at the factory.
"Saving these jobs will benefit the workforce, the city-region’s economy and retain local skills, and once again I commit to using all the powers at our disposal to do exactly that.”
GMB Scotland organiser David Hume said: “We are encouraged by the strong commitment from the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council to explore all available options to retain a McVities factory in Glasgow.
"We need a similar commitment from the company to engage with the action group so that the consultation is meaningful."
Pat McIlvogue, Unite industrial officer, said: "Unite is calling on Pladis, the owners of McVitie’s, to directly engage with the trade unions, the workforce and the Scottish Government to look at these credible alternatives.
"We believe that this includes a bespoke centre of excellence for manufacturing in the sector based in Scotland.
"Unite is therefore demanding that McVitie’s refrain from serving statutory redundancy notices and to engage with us on these alternatives, anything less would be premature in the extreme.”
McVitie's owner Pladis claims it has excess capacity across its UK confectionary business and wants to move work to other sites down south.
Staff at the factory, a landmark in the east end of Glasgow, have set up an online petition in a bid to convince bosses to change their minds.
It has since attracted more than 52,000 signatures.
