A US-based electronics company has announced plans to shut down its manufacturing operations in West Lothian, with the loss of about 260 jobs.

Jabil intends to wind down manufacturing at its Livingston site, with operations ceasing by the end of this year.

The firm said "unsustainable current and future demand" lay behind the decision.

Almost 100 support-based employees will continue to work at the site. Its plant in Ayr is not affected by the announcement.

The decision comes less than two years after Jabil announced it was investing £12.5 million in its Livingston operation, creating more than 200 jobs.

At the time, Jabil was described as the world's third-largest electronic manufacturing services provider, operating across multiple sites globally, and providing services to brands in the aerospace, automotive, computing, consumer, defence, healthcare and communications industries.

In a statement released on Thursday, the company said: "Following a detailed strategic review of the Jabil Livingston site business plan and future loading requirements, we have concluded that there is unsustainable current and future demand to support the viability of the site.

"After careful consideration of all viable options, we are today announcing the commencement of a formal consultation process with our employees, with the intention of a phased rundown of manufacturing at the site.

"It is anticipated that manufacturing will cease by the end of calendar year 2017. This announcement is set to impact approximately 260 manufacturing employees."

The statement went on: "This announcement is in no way a reflection of the hard work, dedication and loyalty of our Livingston-based employees.

"We are committed to supporting them throughout the consultation process and subsequent career search."

Business Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: "I am very disappointed to learn that Jabil is entering into consultation with staff on 260 possible redundancies at its Livingston site.

"I am taking a keen interest in this Consultation and Scottish Enterprise is engaging with the company , on the Scottish Government's behalf, to explore all possible options for supporting the Livingston site, and we will do everything we possibly can to work with the company to safeguard Scottish jobs.

"If any redundancies proceed, through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE), we will provide skills development and employability support to minimise the time that individuals affected are out of work. PACE has a strong track record of supporting individuals affected by potential redundancy.

"However, our focus at this stage is on engaging with the company to do everything we can to encourage them to maintain employment at the site."