Eighteen jobs have been axed in Ayr after administrators were appointed to a department store. 

Watt Brothers is shutting its doors for good in Ayr High Street, with 18 staff members being made redundant. 

Administrators have been appointed to the chain, with 229 staff across Scotland being made redundant with immediate effect.

Administrators KPMG say Watt Brothers will continue to trade from its Glasgow store, where a stock clearance event will begin on October 19. 

Blair Nimmo, Joint Administrator and UK Head of Restructuring at KPMG, said: "Despite the director's tireless efforts to increase margins, cut costs and recapitalise the business, Watt Brothers continued to incur trading losses as a result of the well-publicised challenges being experienced across the retail sector.”

"Ultimately this has led to the unfortunate demise of a well-known and highly-regarded business.”

"We will be holding a stock clearance event, and are grateful to the remaining staff for their efforts and assistance at this difficult time.

"We are working closely with Skills Development Scotland, via their PACE team, and JobCentre Plus to support the staff who have been made redundant."

“We would encourage any party who has an interest in acquiring the business and its assets to contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with an interest in buying the business or assets of the company should contact Alistair McAlinden, Joint Administrator, on 0141 226 5511 or at wattbrotherssaleofbusiness@kpmg.co.uk.