Soft fruit farmers in Tayside and Fife are calling on the government to introduce a seasonal workers scheme for non EU residents this year.

Angus Growers said it lost £625,000 on last season's harvest because of labour shortages associated with Brexit.

The organisation believes the referendum has put Eastern Europeans, who largely pick the fruit, off working in Scotland.

Local farmer James Porter said: "Here in Angus, there's only 1400 long term unemployed and yet if you look at Angus Growers we employ over 4000 people over the season, so we don't really have anywhere else to go.

"That's why we're trying to convince the government that we really need a seasonal works scheme for non EU residents for 2018 not 2019 after the migration advisory committee has reported we need it this year."