Diageo, the world's biggest drinks group, announced the cuts as part of a 120 million pounds restructuring that will see the closure of its Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow, which has been producing whisky since 1810, and a packaging plant in Kilmarnock.

The overhaul will save an estimated 40 million pounds in 2012.

The Johnnie Walker and Guinness maker said the jobs would go over the next two years, although it revealed the changes in the region would also see 400 jobs created through the expansion of its packaging plant at Leven, Fife, where a new bottling facility will be built.

These latest measures come on top of the 200 million pounds restructuring announced in February that aims to cut costs by 100 million pounds in the financial year to June 2010.