A green energy giant is blaming restructuring on potential job losses at its county headquarters.

No numbers have been put on the amount of staff expected to go at Stroud-based Ecotricity as yet with the process being described as "on-going".

Ecotricity was founded by Dale Vince and is one of Stroud's biggest companies, employing an estimated 700 staff in the county and supplying green energy to consumers country-wide.

It is understood staff received an email from Mr Vince informing them changes were afoot.

"We are making some changes to the way we are set up - which will make us more efficient and better able to do things we want to do in the future.

"Unfortunately, this does mean that we are going to lose some jobs and some of our people."

Mr Vince, who is also the chairman of nearby Nailsworth-based Forest Green Rovers FC, said the decision was something he regretted, but that the company 'needed to do'.

Only a year ago the company announced the bitter sweet news that expansion and recruitment of an additional 30 new staff would also come with job losses.

In 2017 the company posted a loss, but earlier this year confirmed it was

The company, which turned over £126.5m last year (up 16 per cent on 2015) posted a loss for 2016 but is believed to be "back in the black".

In May Ecotricity was included in the fourth annual 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain - a celebration of the fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium sized businesses across the UK.