MORE than 70 people are to lose their jobs after a manufacturing plant announced it was closing.

New Brunswick Scientific Scotland Ltd (RS Biotech) in Irvine, Ayrshire, will shut all operations by the end of December.

The firm, a designer and manufacturer of CO² incubators, was taken over by American-based New Brunswick Scientific Co in 2010.

West of Scotland MSP Margaret McDougall said she would write to the Scottish Government to find out what support would be given to employees.

She added: "This is a great loss to North Ayrshire, which is already affected by high unemployment.

"I want to extend my sympathies with all those who shall now be unemployed."