Plea to retain business grant aid

Motorola shut down its premises in West Lothian

Business leaders at the heart of Scotland's "Silicon Glen" have warned of economic disaster if the area loses its European grant aid.

West Lothian has benefited from about £70m in the last five years.

However, along with Edinburgh and the Borders, it has now been taken off the list of assisted areas which is due to be approved by the UK Government.

Business groups and politicians said the whole of the central belt would suffer as a result.

West Lothian was hugely successful in attracting inward investment from electronics and technology companies in the 80s and 90s.

However, industrial giants including Motorola, NEC and Alcatel have since shut down, shedding thousands of jobs.

Despite the creation of other jobs and low unemployment in the area, business leaders said the actual value of its economic output had fallen by more than 23%.

They said that fact had not been recognised by ministers in Westminster.