First Minister Alex Salmond and politicians from across the spectrum have led a march to stop hundreds of whisky jobs being axed in Scotland.

Earlier in July Diageo announced plans to close its Johnnie Walker bottling plant at Kilmarnock and the Port Dundas grain distillery in Glasgow, cutting 900 jobs.

A total of 700 jobs could be lost at the Kilmarnock plant alone, where a protest march and rally aims to reverse the decision.

More than 10,000 people have signed a petition against the proposed closures, including Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who added her name on Saturday.

The First Minister spoke out at the rally against the company's plans, as will Kilmarnock and Loudoun MP and former Scottish Secretary Des Browne.

The First Minister said: "Today's march and rally demonstrated that the people of Scotland stand behind Kilmarnock and the campaign to keep Diageo in the town. More than 20,000 people took to the streets today to support the Diageo workforce.

"This rally marks another step forward in the joint campaign to persuade Diageo of the substantial economic advantages in retaining their long established and hugely beneficial  links with the communities of Scotland.

"Next month, the campaign will present an alternative business case to retain this iconic whisky brand in Ayrshire and to demand fairness for their workers across Scotland and Port Dundas in Glasgow."

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Ross Finnie also took part in the protest, as did Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie and fellow Scottish Conservative MSPs John Scott and Margaret Mitchell.

Mr Browne said that the message from the people of Kilmarnock and Scotland to Diageo is: "You have got it wrong. You must understand that. You must do the right thing. You must agree an alternative plan that respects your workers and allows them to keep their jobs.

"Your company's greatest asset is its people, its loyal and dedicated workforce."

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Des Browne MP's speech against Diageo job cuts

Holyrood to debate Diageo job losses

The demonstration also heard from Unite assistant general secretary Len McCluskey, who claimed that Diageo's proposals were driven by greed.

The union chief alleged: "These are job cuts driven by one thing only - greed. This is a company drunk on greed. It is making mega-profits - more than £2 billion last year - and wants still more."

Mr McCluskey told Diageo it was "time to sober up" and pledged the union will not stand by while the firm "destroy communities and shut plants which are efficient and profitable".

However Andrew Morgan, the president of Diageo Europe, has already said the decision to close the Kilmarnock bottling plant was thought to be the best option for the company.

Diageo has also said it will "offset" the cuts with 400 new jobs at its Fife packaging plant and a coopering centre will be created in Clackmannanshire.

It has also stated there will be no compulsory redundancies at sites for one year.

The march started from Howard Park in Kilmarnock at 1pm and finished in Kay Park with a rally and speeches.