AMAZON has challenged a court order to leave its Gourock warehouse - and announced over 100 seasonal staff are being taken on to deal with the Christmas rush.

As revealed by the Tele last week, the company has been served with an eviction notice by M7 Real Estate, the owner of its Faulds Park distribution centre, in a row over rent.

This has cast doubt over the future of the site and around 400 permanent staff who work there.

The online retailer was given six months to leave the premises ahead of its 15-year lease ending on August 1.

Amazon disputed the notice period, arguing that they were due a year's warning under the terms of the agreement, and the matter ended up in the Court of Session in Edinburgh where a judge ruled in favour of the landlord.

The company has now been given permission to challenge the decision.

A formal appeal hearing will now be scheduled for a later date, possibly early next year.

In the meantime, company officials say they are trying to strike a deal with M7 over a new lease, which could avert further legal action.

An Amazon spokesperson said: "We understand that this is concerning to our associates and we are working hard to find a resolution with the landlord that maintains business as usual at the site."

The Court of Session confirmed the case is now being reviewed.

No date has been set for an appeal hearing.

It comes as Amazon continue with a festive recruitment drive, with over 100 seasonal staff being taken on to cope with increased demand in the run-up to Christmas.

More than 50 temporary workers have already started at the Faulds Park warehouse so far.

An Amazon spokesperson said: "We have already recruited dozens of seasonal associates at Gourock and will welcome many more to play an integral role in helping us deliver an exceptional experience for our customers during the Christmas season."

As many as 1,000 temporary staff have been taken on locally in the past to help cope with demand.

Amazon officials say the 100 seasonal workers this year is the same number they recruited in 2018.

They told the Telegraph the figure is lower than in times gone by because the company has opened more distribution centres throughout the UK and is now employing more full-time staff.