DIRECTORS of Ayrshire's Caledonian Bottling, owned by the makers of Merry-down Cider, have claimed a "satisfactory" year after paying £2 million to its parent company despite a 38.3% fall in pre-tax profit to £1.2m for last year.

The business, which employs 49 people at its site in Cumnock, saw turnover fall to £12.7 million for the year to December 29, 2012, from £16.3m the year before.

A fall in expenses, including a drop in staff costs from £1m to £955,000 was not enough to offset the decline in the top line.

In the notes to the accounts the company said: "The directors consider that, in light of prevailing economic and market conditions, both the results for the period and the prospects for the future are satisfactory."