84 jobs to be axed at Slumberdown

ADMINISTRATORS for Slumberdown, the Borders-based bedding firm, have confirmed that 84 out of 124 jobs are to go in Hawick and Blyth as a result of the company's collapse.

It emerged on Monday that the firm, which is located in Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore's constituency, had been forced to call in administrators at Ernst & Young as it struggled to overcome slower high street sales, a rise in raw material costs and stiff competition.

The redundancies will see 58 jobs going in Hawick and 26 in Blyth.

Colin Dempster, joint administrator, said yesterday: "The directors had tried to resolve the financial position of the business, but it is unfortunate that their attempts were unsuccessful in saving the group. We expect to receive interest in most of the group's assets."