Wood Group the Scottish oil services giant Wood Group has held first half core earnings at $243m (£145m) helped by strong activity in US shale markets and "robust" North Sea business.

Aberdeen-based Wood Group has been impacted by the slowdown in spending on big new projects by international oil and gas giants.

However, the company has been able to compensate for this by winning more business on existing shale fields in the US and helping firms to boost production in the North Sea.

The group said full year performance is expected to be in line with expectations.