Business leaders have warned the scrapping of rail services between Aberdeen and London would be "completely unacceptable".

Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce say the possibility of cancelling the service would be a "major step backwards in the provision of a national rail service".

The business membership organisation made the comment in its response to Transport Scotland's 2014 rail consultation, which includes a suggestion to terminate services from London at Edinburgh.

The chamber say maintaining an overnight sleeper service must remain a priority because it provides an essential alternative to air travel.

Bob Collier, chamber chief executive, said: "We strongly believe that the overriding ambition of Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government should be to deliver the best possible rail service for the whole of Scotland.

"This region is reliant on good connectivity with the rest of the country to ensure that our economy, which is a major contributor to the wider Scottish and UK economies, can continue to grow.

"A modern, efficient rail service is an integral part of that and we strongly oppose any suggestions, such as discontinuing the cross border or sleeper services, which would further reduce what is already an unacceptably poor rail service to the North and North-east of Scotland."