MORE than 100 jobs are at risk at a West of Scotland dairy owned by the UK's largest milk supplier.

Müller Milk & Ingredients is consulting on plans to end milk processing at its East Kilbride dairy.

A total of 131 jobs are at risk in Lanarkshire with a further 89 under threat in Aberdeen.

The East Kilbride dairy makes products including flavoured milks and potted cream. The company wants to transfer production to its Bellshill dairy, where it is proposing to invest some £15million over the next three years.

The company, which took over Robert Wiseman Dairies in 2012 in a £279million deal, employs around 4,000 people across the UK.

Müller said both dairies were operating "well below full utilisation" with more than 60% of the capacity at Aberdeen dairy unused.

A spokeswoman for the company said: "If there are any roles that can be transferred, we will do whatever is in our power to facilitiate it, should the consultation result in closure."

Müller has entered a 45 day statutory consultation period.

Andrew McInnes, Managing Director of Müller Milk & Ingredients said: “We aim to reinvigorate our fresh milk and ingredients business in Scotland and propose to invest to make Bellshill a centre of excellence for dairy, benefitting consumers, customers, employees and farmers.

“It is important to stress that the status quo is just not viable in the medium term.

"Our Scottish dairies are inefficient and costly which is putting a brake on the innovation and investment needed to stimulate new demand for dairy products.

“Our small dairy in East Kilbride makes products including flavoured milks and potted cream and we believe that we can gain important efficiencies by relocating that production to Bellshill, which is nearby.

“We will enter the consultation with an open mind and will rigorously assess the situation and listen to our colleagues before arriving at a decision.

Dr Lisa Cameron, MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven & Lesmahagow, said: "I'm shocked to hear of the catastrophic number of potential job losses at Muller in East Kilbride (formerly Wisemans) which has been a major employer in our local constituency for decades.

"I have already contacted the Muller Group and I am in the process of arranging meetings with the company and staff affected.

"I have requested ministerial support from the Scottish Government during the set consultation period and will do all that I can to fight for staff affected by this announcement and advocate for Muller remaining in East Kilbride.

"As vice chair of the Dairy APPG at Westminster, I am particularly devastated by this announcement. Everything possible must be done to support our constituency dairy industry."