Scottish borders knitwear manufacturer Peter Scott & Company went into administration yesterday leaving 150 jobs at risk. The company has been a key employer in Hawick, Scotland’s high quality knitwear manufacturing centre, for more than 130 years.

Staff are reported to have been told to leave the Hawick factory with immediate effect, in another blow for the troubled textile industry in the Borders. Earlier this year 132 jobs were lost at JJ & HB 1788 Cashmere Mills in Innerleithen, near Peebles.

Member for Scottish Parliament , John Lamont, who represents Roxburgh and Berwickshire in the Scottish borders region, told Scotland’s leading newspaper the Daily Record: "This is absolutely devastating news for Hawick. The Peter Scott name is known around the world and has been a major employer in Hawick for 130 years. My first concern is for the 150 staff at the firm who will be facing huge uncertainty this morning.” Mr Lamont pledged to help those likely to be affected.

In September last year Peter Scott, famous for its stag logo, reported that it had clinched a multi-million pound deal with a German retailer to put Peter Scott branding on its clothing. However, rumours have abounded that the deal soured and that company has been recently struggling.

The company which manufactures classic men’s and women’s luxury knitwear, including golf wear, teamed up with golfer Colin Montgomerie in 2008 to design his own clothing range.