Energy giant SSE is to close its white goods stores, resulting in the loss of 119 posts.

The company has announced its decision to close all 37 remaining Scottish Hydro Electric retail shops, located mainly in Tayside and the north of Scotland.

In the announcement, SSE said it had been a "difficult decision" but changing shopping habits meant the shops had been making losses for years.

SSE has entered into consultation with the 119 employees affected by the planned closures and redeployment within the company may be an option for some staff.

All the outlets and its online shop will shut by May 15.

Stephen Forbes, SSE director of domestic retail, said: "Customers’ shopping habits have changed considerably since these shops were first opened, with more and more people shopping online, especially for larger electrical items.

"We know some of these shops have been on local high streets for a long time so we did not take this decision lightly but footfall and sales have reduced considerably and there is, unfortunately, no realistic prospect of that long-term trend reversing.

"Our priority is to ensure our colleagues are fully supported during this time and we will work to redeploy staff within the SSE group where possible."

The full list of stores closing are: Aberdeen, Banchory, Banff, Blairgowrie, Bowmore, Brechin, Brodick, Buckie, Campbeltown, Crieff, Dingwall, Dunblane, Dundee Wellgate, Dunoon, Forfar, Grantown-on-Spey, Huntly, Inverurie, Kirkwall, Kyle, Lerwick, Lochboisdale, Lochgilphead, Nairn, Oban, Perth, Peterhead, Pitlochry, Portree, Rothesay, Stonehaven, Stornoway, Thurso, Tiree, Tobermory, Ullapool and Wick.