REDUNDANCY support is being offered to 79 workers following the collapse of a specialised engineering firm in the Borders.

Border Precision Engineering collapsed after losing a major contract, its liquidator has confirmed.

Staff were turned away from the factory in Kelso on Monday and later learned that the company was in liquidation.

Workers are being offered PACE support with an event being held for them in the town's Tait Hall in Kelso on Tuesday, July 7, between 1pm and 4pm.

The company previously went into administration in 2013 - but was saved by a management buyout, backed by investors syndicate Tri Cap.

South of Scotland MSP Paul Wheelhouse today (Wednesday) contacted Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney MSP, to establish what support is to be made available to employees of Border Precision Engineering who are now facing redundancy.

Mr Wheelhouse said: “My thoughts are with those employees and their families currently facing uncertainty at this most stressful of times. It is always difficult to witness any company face potential insolvency, but it is especially upsetting to see a company that is so important a local employer face such a savage change of its fortunes and to see it happen so unexpectedly.

“I have today contacted the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, who is very much aware of the situation, and expressed his own great concern for the company's employees. Mr Swinney has informed me that the 79 employees facing redundancy are being offered PACE support with an event being held for them in the Tait Hall in Kelso on Tuesday (7th July) between 1pm-4pm, where they can find out more about their options and support available to them. Further information will, I understand, have been sent to employees on this today.

“I also understand a meeting between the company and liquidators was also due to take place today and I hope that it may not be beyond the possibility that something may yet be salvaged from what is undoubtedly a very worrying situation.

“If I can be of assistance to any of my constituents in dealing with the knock-on consequences of this news for them, I will of course do whatever I can to support them. The Deputy First Minister has offered to keep me up-to-date with any developments and my staff and I stand ready to provide any support we can through my office in Hawick, supporting the efforts of the PACE team and other national and local agencies.”