THE BBC are investigating complaints of bullying of employees working on the set of River City.

The head of drama at BBC Scotland was informed of allegations relating to the sudden firing of a crew member last week.

Furious union members have threatened strike action over the dismissal and criticised the network’s “extremely aggressive management style” after a change in personnel at the top.

The row is said to have been sparked amid ongoing tensions between the show’s bosses and production staff.

In April this year, the BBC hired a new executive producer Kathleen Hutchison, who previously worked for Eastenders.

Scottish organiser for union BECTU Paul McManus raised concerns with BBC Scotland’s head of talent Donald Iain Brown in a meeting last month.

And after the sacking he sent a damning letter which outlined the union’s position. Part of the letter said: “The new management at River City appear to us to have adopted an extremely aggressive management style which we believed was tantamount to bullying in some cases.”

McManus, whose union represents more than half of the 100 River City crew, also claims that management have scrapped the traditional morning and afternoon tea breaks and demanded additional footage is filmed within the same timeframe.

He added: “In recent years, River City has filmed twice as much script as EastEnders in the same amount of time with a much smaller budget.

“We’ve been saying to the BBC that they are putting people under too much pressure.”

A BBC Scotland spokesperson said: "BECTU, who we have a very good working relationship with, had raised a number of issues with us on behalf of members who work on River City.

“We take any staff concerns over working conditions very seriously and we're therefore working with BECTU to investigate the issues raised and establish the facts as a matter of urgency."