ONE of Glasgow's oldest and best known family bakers and tearooms is to close after almost 90 years with the loss of more than 100 jobs.

Miss Cranston's Tearooms, the company which owns 13 branches of Bradfords Bakers, has gone out of business with liquidators called in.

A number of employees were asked not to work last night's shift and were instead asked to apply for redundancy. Workers at the company, which has traded since 1924, will attend a crisis meeting with directors this morning.

A spokeswoman for the company said: "After almost 90 years, it is with great sadness that Miss Cranston's Tearooms, the Retail branches of Bradfords have now closed and a liquidator, Grainger Corporate has been appointed as of 12th July.

"We would like to thank all of our customers and employees for their loyal support over the years. It has been a pleasure to serve the Glasgow public through our branches, but we regret that due to the impact of increasing costs and adverse trading conditions we were unable to continue despite our best efforts following action from creditors.

"In keeping with our desire to provide the best possible service to customers, we will be contacting all those who have placed an order with us so that we may either fulfil the order, or provide a refund."

The news concludes a turbulent financial spell for Bradfords, which survived a threat of closure in 2011. That summer the firm had one week to pull the company back from liquidation after HM Revenue and Customs lodged a petition at Paisley Sheriff Court.

HR Bradford (Bakers) Ltd then issued a notice following the move by the taxman, who called for the business to be wound down and a liquidator appointed.

That followed the last serving at one of their best-known branches, Miss Cranston's Tearooms, in the city's Gordon Street.

Bradfords was founded by Hugh Bradford and his sons and is now run by his granddaughter-in-law Helen Bradford and great-granddaughter Claire

In 1998, it launched Miss Cranston's Tearooms, a once-famous Glasgow brand originally founded in 1878 by Kate Cranston.

Bradfords' flagship store in Sauchiehall Street is the UK's largest artisan bakers shop, which moved into the former department store, Sir Hugh Fraser's.

One worker, who asked not to be named, said: "It is a shame in some ways. You can blame the recession but on the other hand Greggs is booming. Bradfords has been dying a death for years. It comes as no surprise."

Meanwhile, one of the largest private employers in the Highlands is to shed 40 jobs at its Inverness base.

Lifescan Scotland, part of the Johnson & Johnson-multi-national group, employs about 1,100 people to make medical equipment used by diabetics.