THE boss of Greenock Ocean Terminal has slammed the decision to snub the Clyde coast freeport bid.

James McSporran, director at Peel Ports’ Clydeport, hit out after the announcement that two rival bids had been accepted.

He said: “Some of the most socially-deprived parts of Scotland are located around the Clyde and this news will be a hammer-blow to people in those communities, especially coming on the back of the potential loss of 300 jobs in Gourock [at Amazon].

"Green freeport designation would have brought enormous benefits to those communities, not least the creation of thousands of sustainable jobs, at Clydeport and beyond.

"We are deeply disappointed by this decision, which will simply increase the ongoing displacement of jobs from the west to the east."

Mr McSporran says Peel will now work with its bid partners, including Inverclyde Council, to get 'clarity on what the government intends to do to support businesses and workers in our area'.