Dozens of workers at a Dumfriesshire pharmaceutical company are to be made redundant.
Macfarlan Smith announced 65 jobs will be lost when it shuts its plant at Newbie near Annan.
Niek Stapel, chief executive of American-based parent company Veranova, said the decision was made following a review of its manufacturing capacity.
He added: “Every effort has been made to avoid proposing the closure of the plant.
“This was a difficult decision to make which in no way reflects the performance or commitment of our colleagues at Annan.”
Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell and MSP Oliver Mundell said their “thoughts are with the staff at the factory and their families”.
They have written a joint-letter to South of Scotland Enterprise to ask if they are in contact with the company and to establish what, if any, options may be available in response to the proposed job losses.
Oliver Mundell said: “History shows that the pharmaceutical industry adjusts and contracts as has been shown at this factory over several decades.
“A great deal of private and public investment has been made on this site over a long period and it is important every effort is made to try to restore employment there for the longer term.”
David Mundell added: “We will be seeking clarity from the company about what has led to this decision and will, of course, contact any agencies that may be able to assist in any way.”
SOSE chief executive Jane Morrison-Ross said it was aware of the “very concerning” news.
She added: “This announcement will be extremely distressing to the staff employed at the Newbie site, their families and the local community.
“We are keeping up to date with the situation, alongside the Scottish government, Skills Development Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway Council.”
MacFarlan Smith took over the Newbie site at Three Trees Road in 2014 after it had been run by a range of companies.
It was originally commissioned by Glaxo in 1980.
The closure bombshell came just weeks after Veranova announced that Macfarlan Smith had completed a $10 million expansion of its mid-scale active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing site in Edinburgh.
