Johnnie Walker campaigners protest at Diageo HQ

Campaigners fighting to save hundreds of jobs at Diageo's bottling facility in East Ayshire took their protest to the company's London headquarters today.

The Save the Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock Campaign timed their visit to coincide with Diageo announcing annual profits of £2.6bn.

The drinks giant wants to close the plant as part of restructuring plans that would lead to 700 jobs in Kilmarnock being lost.

Local MP Des Browne was joined at the protest by workers from the plant plus supporters from all the main political parties.

Browne said: "This is really important to Kilmarnock, this business has been there for 200 years and taking it out will do enormous damage.

"I think it is a very strong argument that the provenance of this whisky is important to the way it's sold."

Billy Paterson, who has worked at the plant for 44 years, added: "I am devastated by the plans. They can't take it out of Kilmarnock. Kilmarnock is Johnnie Walker and Johnnie Walker is Kilmarnock."

Campaigners planned to hand a letter to Diageo chief executive Paul Walsh urging him to review the options available.