FINANCE Secretary John Swinney is to meet union leaders to discuss support for workers being made redundant by a Glasgow rail repairs and refurbishment company.

More than 150 jobs were axed on Friday at Railcare's sites in Springburn and Milton Keynes after it went into administration.

The company cited difficult trading conditions and reduced demand when problems emerged on Thursday.

Unions said the problems were caused by a cash flow crisis, adding that Railcare had a full order book of work from October but had been hit by delays to fleet refurbishment programmes resulting from the UK Government's rail franchising timetable being aborted after the West Coast "fiasco".

The Scottish Government said development agency Scottish Enterprise has already been in contact with Railcare administrators BDO and John Swinney is now to hold talks with the Unite union.

He will meet officials in the next few days, a government spokesman said.

Mr Swinney said: "Railcare are an important and valued employer with a skilled workforce.

"We were very concerned to be informed that the company had entered administration, in part as a result of the hiatus in the overhaul of rolling stock following the UK Government's failure to tender for the West Coast Mainline.

"Through Scottish Enterprise, we made immediate contact with the administrators and have offered support through our Partnership Action for Continuing Employment."