The Scottish Prison Service has been condemned for sending out recruitment leaflets asking people in troubled fishing communities if they felt their jobs were "on the rocks".

Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace has demanded an apology from the head of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) over the leaflets, which have also been attacked by First Minister Jack McConnell.

The advert asked people in north east fishing communities facing potentially devastating EU cuts: "Is your career on the rocks? Do you feel all washed up? Is your career floating away on the tide?"

Mr Wallace called on SPS chief Tony Cameron to apologise publicly for releasing the leaflet at a time when at least 20,000 fishing jobs in Scotland face a threat of drastic cuts.

That was a crass and insensitive advert and an apology has been issued - and it could not have been issued too quickly

Jack McConnell, First Minister

Hamish Morrison, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, described the leaflets as "despicable".

He said: "Frankly, here we are trying to keep the show on the road and what amounts to a government body is sending out leaflets spreading alarm and despondency among crews."

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Prison Service said the organisation was sorry for any offence caused.

She said: "We are looking to recruit staff at the moment, particularly in the north east of Scotland.

"We distributed leaflets and there were words which caused offence and all we can do is apologise.

"We didn't mean to cause any offence and it was done with the best of intentions."

Communities are braced for a big cuts

A spokesman for Jim Wallace said the minister had taken action as soon as he found out about the leaflets.

He said: "He wrote to Tony Cameron to tell him he regarded the material as crass and insensitive."

James McGrigor, Conservative MSP for Highlands and Islands, said he was willing to go "as far as it takes" to help Scotland's fishing industry.

He said: "If it means breaking the law I am happy enough to go as a deckhand on any vessel that will take me."

During First Minister's Questions, Scottish National Party Leader John Swinney called on Mr McConnell to say the "disgraceful propaganda" did not reflect the view of the Scottish Executive.

He also called on the executive to "pull out all the stops" to save the fishing industry in crucial EU talks later this month.

'United and strong'

Mr McConnell said: "That was a crass and insensitive advert and an apology has been issued - and it could not have been issued too quickly."

The row erupted as hundreds of Scots fishermen staged a demonstration in Edinburgh calling on the Scottish Parliament to rally to their cause.

Mr McConnell told Mr Swinney: "We in this parliament are most effective when we are united.

"And in the next fortnight we need to be united and strong in ensuring our fishing minister can go to Brussels, argue on behalf of the Scottish fishing communities and deliver a result in what will be very difficult circumstances."