The future of the film industry in Glasgow is under threat according to city officials, who are accusing the Scottish Government of discriminating against the west of Scotland.

Changes in eligibility criteria for European Structural Funds has led, it is claimed, to Glasgow and other parts of the west - which are home to areas of multiple deprivation - losing out to more affluent areas like Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

A number of projects have failed to win financial support in the first round of funding since the system was changed, including the Glasgow Film Office, which now faces losing staff.

Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell is expected to write to Finance Secretary John Swinney, while a senior councillor is calling on every MSP in Glasgow to back the city and call on Mr Swinney to ensure projects do not miss out.

The money Scotland receives from the structural fund has already dropped from £1bn to £430m since 2006 due to EU enlargement, and now Glasgow says it is being squeezed even further out of the funds.

Previously only areas defined under socio-economic indicators were eligible for European Regional Development Fund money, which was allocated on a west of Scotland basis. Now, any area can apply.

The Glasgow City Film Office, which has played a part in successful movies such as The House of Mirth, Red Road, Young Adam, Hallam Foe, Ae Fond Kiss and Sweet Sixteen, has already lost one of its funders with the changes to Scottish Enterprise.

Steve Inch, executive director of development and regeneration at the city council, said the office, which was previously funded in a three-way split from the council, Scottish Enterprise and EU funds, is now reliant on council money following rejection for the EU cash this year. He said: "The office performed two main functions, location finding and business development, including marketing and training. The development side will now stop."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Of the £21.5m allocated to individual employability projects in the first round of the new programme, £9.5m was allocated to Glasgow-only projects, the single largest amount for a council area."