CONCERNS have been raised over a string of employment, environmental and business schemes after a think tank called for Scotland's £720million share of EU spending to be protected after Brexit.

MSPs said the "vital" projects should continue after Britain withdraws from the EU.

Labour and Green MSPs hit out after the centre-left Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) think tank highlighted EU funding equivalent to £134 per person in Scotland.

It is part of an £8.6billion EU funding package across the UK covering the years 2014 to 2020.

The JRF said "comprehensive plans" must be put in place to support local economies when the money ceases to be available.

Its analysis of the latest European Structural and Investment Fund allocations showed how the cash has been targeted at poorer areas.

Funding is equivalent to £863 per person in Cornwall; £627 per person in Wales; £243 per person in Teeside, and £223 per person in Northern Ireland, the study showed.

In Scotland, where the Holyrood government takes the lead in distributing funding, EU cash is supporting schemes aimed at getting people into work, training apprentices and helping businesses take on new staff.

Green schemes include initiatives to promote public transport and "active travel" such as cycling and walking.

Recent announcements have included a £70million programme - including £30million of EU cash - to support manufacturing industry, and a £60million scheme to cut youth unemployment in South West Scotland, where one in four young people are out of work.

Scottish Labour's Europe spokesman Lewis Macdonald said: "This funding delivers vital projects for Scotland.

"This underlines how vital it is for Scottish Ministers to take an active role in UK wide discussions as well as engaging with the EU directly, to ensure funds allocated are delivered up to 2020 and there is no claw-back."

Ross Greer, the Scottish Greens Europe spokesman, said: "European funding has been transformational for Scotland, giving us vital infrastructure in rural areas and helping create jobs and tackle youth unemployment.

"The Tories who have created the chaos we now face must explain how these projects will continue, or at least be honest if they simply want an excuse to further slash public spending."

The Scottish Government stressed schemes already announced were not at risk as a result of the Brexit vote.

But a government spokeswoman said: "The European Union brings clear benefits to Scotland, including access to European Structural Funds.

"As the First Minister has stated, we are intent on pursuing all options to maintain Scotland’s EU status so that these benefits can be preserved.

"Ministers are engaging in discussions with key stakeholders to emphasise that we are still firmly in the EU.

"The Scottish Government will now explore all options to secure Scotland's place in the European Union European Structural Fund will clearly be a key part of those negotiations.”

Helen Barnard, head of analysis at JRF, said:

"The referendum campaign and its aftermath has exposed the extent to which people in the poorest places feel shut out from the benefits of the country’s prosperity.

"These figures show the challenge in ensuring they do not fall further behind from lost EU funding after 2020.

"We urge the Government to ensure allocated funding is not lost, but that it also has a long-term plan in place to improve living standards in struggling areas."

She added: "Brexit must be used to ensure we create an economy where prosperity is shared by all and no area is left behind."