STAFF at Dunfermline's Tesco stores look set to be hit by changes announced to in-store bakeries.

Both the Duloch and Fire Station supermarkets are among 201 outlets going from full-scratch baking to part-scratch baking.

The most popular products will continue to be baked from scratch while others will move to part-baked, meaning a reduction of what is made on site.

The retailer says it is improving the customer experience by investing and continuing to roll out new, up-to-date fixtures as well as growing its regional bakery ranges in partnership with small, local suppliers.

Because of the changes, fewer workers will be needed which Tesco say will put 1,816 bakery colleagues across the UK at risk of redundancy.

A statement by the supermarket giant added: "At this difficult time, our priority will be to support those colleagues impacted, including finding an alternative role from the many thousands of vacancies we will have available across our store networks between now and May, for those who wish to stay with us.

"Our bakeries are an important part of our offer for customers and will remain so. However, over recent years, we have seen a big shift in customer tastes and preferences."

Jason Tarry, UK & ROI CEO, said: “We need to adapt to changing customer demand and tastes for bakery products so that we continue to offer customers a market-leading bakery range in store.

"We know this will be very difficult for colleagues who are impacted, and our priority is to support them through this process. We hope that many will choose to stay with us in alternative roles.”

After the announcement, shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw said it would be entering into collective consultation with Tesco.

National officer Pauline Foulkes said: “This is devastating and upsetting news for our members who work in the bakery operations.

“Many of those affected by the proposed changes are skilled workers. While we will do everything possible to maintain jobs or support impacted staff to redeploy into alternative roles, the reality is the opportunities to find suitable alternative skilled roles may be limited for these workers."