THE number of businesses that failed in Scotland surged 21 per cent last year official figures show.

The Accountant in Bankruptcy said 945 Scottish firms went into liquidation during 2018 compared with 780 in the previous year.

Eileen Blackburn, head of restructuring and debt advisory at accountants French Duncan LLP, noted: “The increase in the number of corporate insolvencies in 2018 is of great concern. This is the highest annual figure since 2012 and is the fourth highest figure ever.”