A street sweeper manufacturer is to close down with the loss of up to 54 jobs.

Green Machines has announced plans to close down its Scottish base in Falkirk before Christmas.

The leader of Falkirk Council has said he is "very concerned" at the announcement and has offered support to management and staff at the firm.

The council has also called on the owners to begin talks and have sought to meet them.

The firm used to be known as Applied Sweepers and was taken over by Austrian firm M and F Management and Financing at the end of February.

Falkirk Council leader Craig Martin said: "We are very concerned about the announcement of the closure of Green Machines and we have offered our support to the workforce and local management to help in any way we can.

"Falkirk Council and other agencies are in a better position to offer help if the owners engage in dialogue. To this end we have sought a meeting with the owners later this month.

"This will allow us to better understand the reasons for the closure, consider any options and at very least lessen its impact for the 54 workers affected."

He added: "The company is a great example of an innovative product, developed locally and taken to a worldwide market.

"It was based in the Falkirk area for more than 50 years and, alongside the recent Carron Phoenix announcement, is a big loss to our local economy.

"The Falkirk area is a manufacturing hub for Scotland and it is important that this is sustained for the future.

"Despite this decision we still perceive a bright future for manufacturing locally.

"Recent announcements by Ineos and Alexander Dennis show the potential for new manufacturing ventures to thrive here.

"We ask that government and industry work together to take full advantage of these opportunities in the future. "