A FOOD factory that closed this year with the loss of 450 jobs was awarded more than half a million pounds in grants from Scottish Enterprise.

The 2 Sisters chicken production plant in Cambuslang closed its doors in September.

However in recent years the firm was awarded three payments totalling £543,000.

It has emerged that the cash was on condition of the factory was kept open until 2020.

Payments were made in 2015 with a sum of £168,000 paid on August 18, followed by £320,000 the following day and then £55,000 on September 30.

The latter two payments was for the purchase of “fixed assets” for production to be in use until August 2020.

The payments were for the “processing of poultry and manufacturing of cooked chicken products.”

James Kelly Labour MSP has said it was “shocking” and said the Government should be “clawing the cash back”.

Mr Kelly said: ““This is an absolutely shocking revelation which proves SNP ministers sold local workers short.

“Despite taxpayers’ money being pumped into the factory on the condition of keeping it open until 2020, earlier this year all 450 jobs were lost.

“For the people who lost their jobs as a result of this closure, this development is a complete kick in the teeth, especially in the run-up to Christmas.”

In a response to a Freedom of Information request Scottish Enterprise stated: “In relation to the grants above, there is a requirement to retain the jobs and assets on which the grant was based for the period specified in the offer letter from SE to the company.”

The increased staffing levels at the plant were to be maintained until January 2017 and the production maintained until August 2020.