The Millers of Speyside abattoir in the Scottish Highlands has decided to temporarily close its factory due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the local area.

The meat factory has stopped production on its site for the next 14 days after seven cases were reported in the Grantown area.

Food Standards Agency (FSS) and Public Health were willing to allow the privately owned facility to stay open. But the factory management decided to temporarily close, affecting the 50 jobs on site.

Managing director at Millers of Speyside Sandy Milne said: “The health and wellbeing of our staff here at Millers of Speyside, who have worked tirelessly through the pandemic to ensure continued food production, is of the utmost importance.

“To prevent further spread of the virus among both our employees and the local community, we have opted to close our facility for 14 days.”