UP to 14 more workers in the Borders face losing their jobs after a textiles company announced looming redundancies.

Lochcarron of Scotland today (August 18) unveiled plans to cut jobs at its Waverley Mill site in Selkirk, pointing to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lochcarron’s managing director Dawn Robson-Bell said: "It is with much regret that we have had to make the hard decision to review staffing levels in Selkirk and the outcome will result in the region of 14 redundancies across a number of areas of the company."

The mill and visitor centre are key tourist attractions in the town, but during lockdown they have operated with fewer reduced staff as orders and visitors have slumped.

The company says the "almost complete loss" of the tourist trade in Scotland is one of the reasons for the redundancies.

Ms Robson-Bell said: "The dramatic and continued effect of the pandemic on many of our markets both home and abroad has had a major impact on our turnover and our ability to sustain the business in its current format.

"Over the last few months we have put in place safe working practices around COVID-19 so that we have been able to work with reduced staffing levels to complete valuable orders.

“However, these have not been sufficient for us to operate our production continuously or at full capacity.

"The almost complete loss of the Scottish tourist market this year and the likelihood it will not return until well into 2021 is devastating for the Scottish tourist industry.

"As with most years, we had geared up for the start of the season in March however, our stocks remain here in Selkirk with little or no chance of these being needed anytime this year."

A source, who wished to be anonymous, told the Border Telegraph that staff were advised of the redundancies at individual meetings on August 12, with more meetings taking place this week.

The job cuts will be made across different departments within the business, and are intended to help secure the future of the company.

Other businesses to announce Borders redundancies in recent months include OVO Energy, which had a Selkirk site, and the Galashiels call centre operated by Sykes.

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