The owner of Tex-Mex restaurant chain Chiquito is closing several of its branches in Scotland as it axes 33 "underperforming" sites across the UK.

Three branches of the Mexican bar grill and a Coast to Coast restaurant - which employ up to 120 staff in total - are being closed across Scotland.

Owner the Restaurant Group anticipates a "very small number of job losses" as a result of the closures as it seeks to redeploy workers at other restaurants across its portfolio.

A Chiquito branch in Edinburgh has already closed, while two more at Springfield Quay in Glasgow and in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, will also be axed.

The American bar restaurant chain Coast to Coast's Aberdeen branch will also close, with all expected to shut over the next few weeks.

The Restaurant Group, which also owns the Frankie and Benny's chain, made the closure announcement in its half-year report which recorded pre-tax losses of £22.5m.

Debbie Hewitt, chairwoman of the group, said: "This has been a challenging trading period for our leisure brands, albeit with a good performance from our pubs and concessions businesses.

"The board has moved quickly to undertake a review of the operating strategy and we now have clarity on the issues facing our leisure brands, particularly Frankie and Benny's.

"The brand remains relevant and popular and we are confident that improved performance will be achieved by being more customer-focussed and data-driven, and through better operational execution."

The group admitted it has lost value-conscious customers at Frankie and Benny's after "significant price increases".

The firm pledged to "look at the pricing architecture of the menu" and "reinvigorate the value offer" in a bid to attract more families to its outlets.

In relation to the 33 site closures, which will affect 1000 jobs across the UK, the company was also keen to highlight its plans to open between 24 and 28 new restaurants in the coming year.