Boots has announced the closure of its cosmetics factory in Lanarkshire with the loss of 1,000 jobs.

The company said the Airdrie plant would close over the next two years under a rationalisation programme which began last year.

Boots said it would work hard to minimise the impact of the closure and pledged there would be no compulsory job losses over the first nine months of the closure plan.

I expect them to repay the loyalty and commitment of the people of Airdrie Helen Liddell Scottish Secretary

The decision was described as "devastating" by Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell, who is also the local MP.

Boots intends to transfer production from Airdrie to Nottingham as part of a cost-cutting plan.

The firm hopes the move will save nearly �50m over three years.

The 750 full time and 250 part time staff in Airdrie will be considered for redeployment elsewhere in the group.

Mrs Liddell was flying back from London for emergency talks with local management and union representatives at the factory in her Airdrie constituency.

Best solution

She said she was "shocked and disappointed" at the company's decision.

"It came completely out of the blue with no attempt by Boots to make contact with government or the Scottish Executive to see if anything could be done to avoid this decision," she said.

"I will be meeting with the local plant management and the local trades unions to discuss the best way forward in order to get the best possible solution for nearly 1,000 of my constituents.

I certainly had no indication that there was any significant threat to the workforce in Airdrie Karen Whitefield Airdrie and Shotts MSP

"Boots is one of the most famous names in the country. I expect them to repay the loyalty and commitment of the people of Airdrie."

Boots cosmetics have been made in the town since 1949.

Scottish Enterprise Minister Iain Gray said he was seeking a meeting with the company to "clarify the reasons behind the decision."

Airdrie and Shotts MSP Karen Whitefield described the announcement as "a cruel and bitter blow".

No warning

Opposition parties were critical of Mrs Liddell.

Scottish Tory enterprise spokeswoman Annabel Goldie said the closure was "a matter of profound regret".

She said: "Perhaps instead of flying back to Airdrie from London, Helen Liddell should stay there and try to fight Scotland's corner by urging the Chancellor to turn Britain back into the business-friendly environment it was before he came to power."

The Nationalists accused the Scottish Secretary of complacency over Scotland's economy.

Scottish National Party enterprise spokesman Andrew Wilson MSP said: "This is a massive blow to the local community at a time when the economy is already in deep trouble.

"Coming just one day after Helen Liddell awarded herself 10 out of 10 for efforts to rebuild the Lanarkshire economy, it demonstrates the appalling complacency of the Scottish Secretary.

Shopworkers' union Usdaw, which has 650 members at the plant, said the closure was another example of how UK jobs were the first casualties in any rationalisation drive by a multinational firm.