Top doctors at NHS Grampian have warned lives will be put at risk if the Scottish Government U-turns on plans to build a life-saving trauma centre in Aberdeen.

The SNP administration revealed plans to build the flagship facility in the city – but has since stalled on the proposal.

Health Secretary Shona Robison claims the plan has been put on hold because senior clinicians have questioned whether the centre in Aberdeen would be viable.

But now 50 specialists at NHS Grampian have hit out at Ms Robison, claiming she risks leaving the North-east with a “second-class service” putting life-saving treatment “in jeopardy”.

In an open letter, consultant surgeon Simon Barker said doctors were “deeply worried” that building the trauma centres only in Edinburgh and Glasgow “will leave the rest of Scotland out in the cold”.

Ms Robison said “no final decisions” on the number of trauma centres have been made.

She added: “All options remain on the table and I am today writing to the National Planning Forum to give reassurances to clinicians on this.”