JOBS could be lost at two West Fife supermarkets after Tesco announced operational changes to its Metro stores.

The supermarket giants announced an overhaul of its 153 Metro stores which will include those in Dalgety Bay and Rosyth.

Around 4500 jobs across the UK will be lost in the shake up but the retailer said it is too early to say what the exact impact will be on its West Fife outlets.

Processes and administrative tasks are set to be simplified and reduced across all Metro stores in a move which will allow the to serve shoppers better and run the business more sustainably in an increasingly competitive and challenging retail environment.

A spokesperson stated: "Importantly, they will also allow us to better align the way we run our stores to the way that customers are shopping in them. The changes in our Metro stores will be focused on better tailoring them to how our customers shop. The Metro format was originally designed for larger, weekly shops, but today nearly 70 per cent of customers use them as convenience stores, buying food for that day.

"Our priority now is to support affected colleagues, helping find alternative roles within Tesco for as many as possible. We expect that these changes will lead to an overall reduction of around 4,500 colleagues."

Changes will include introducing faster and simpler ways of filling shelves, with fewer products stored in back rooms and more stock going straight to the shop floor, colleagues working more flexibly across the store to improve customer service at the busiest times of the day and in the right areas of the store; and a leaner management structure.

Small changes will also be made in 134, as yet unconfirmed, Tesco Express stores where customer footfall is lower. These alterations may include a slight reduction in opening hours during quieter trading periods at the start and end of the day, and simplifying stock routines.

Tesco's UK & ROI CEO, Jason Tarry, added: “In a challenging, evolving retail environment, with increasing cost pressures, we have to continue to review the way we run our stores to ensure we reflect the way our customers are shopping and do so in the most efficient way.

"We do not take any decision which impacts colleagues lightly, but have to make sure we remain relevant for customers and operate a sustainable business now and in the future.”