Armed police are to be stationed at some of Scotland's main oil and gas terminals and power stations to bolster security, it has been confirmed.
Precautions are being increased at the St Fergus gas terminal near Peterhead with the introduction of the armed military police.
The Home Office insisted the heightened security was not the result of a specific terror threat.
The details of other locations have not been confirmed.
'Local role'
Extra Ministry of Defence (MoD) police are being drafted in to guard what is deemed "critical infrastructure" as part of a major review of the UK's security strategy.
SNP leader and Banff and Buchan MP, Alex Salmond, said: "This is a general policy of guarding a strategic energy installation and it should be noted that this does not represent a specific threat to St Fergus.
"This is a sensible precaution especially considering the current international environment."
Banff and Buchan MSP, Stewart Stevenson, said: "Given the rural nature of the area, it would be much more difficult for anyone who poses a threat to go about unnoticed.
"I am quite sure that local residents will play their part in reporting anything suspicious to the police."
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