SCOTS bakery Aulds has announced its 26 shops are going into liquidation.

The family-owned firm, with a site in Clyde Shopping Centre, said it was taking the steps to secure its future.

Aulds said it was looking at the viability of selling some or all of the stores as a going concern and all will continue to trade. Aulds products will also remain available in shops.

There are a total of 180 staff across the stores and Paul Dounis and Steve Ross of RSM Restructuring Advisory were appointed joint liquidators on Thursday.

Thomas Auld opened his first bakery in 1900 but the group reported a loss of £430,000 on a turnover of £15.4 million in the year ending April 1, 2017. Turnover was up from £15.2m.

Managing director Alan Marr said: "We have invested considerable time and effort over a period of several months looking at alternative courses of action which would allow us to avoid the voluntary insolvency of our retail business.

"Unfortunately, the losses in our retail business are such that the rest of the group is no longer able to sustain it.

"We sincerely regret that a significant number of our colleagues will be affected by these circumstances, and we'll be working closely with local job centres and other services to help people into new jobs if necessary.

"The Aulds brand is one of the last large independent retail bakers in Scotland and we passionately believe in our products and are absolutely committed to a successful future for this business."

About 200 people work at the bakery in Greenock and dessert site in Inchinnan, both of which will be focused on growing production and wholesale.