A RAY of light appeared yesterday in the fight to save the last commercial River Clyde shipyard from permanent closure with the loss of over 70 jobs.

Workers at the Ferguson shipyard, Inverclyde, received bombshell news on Friday that the firm had plunged into administration due to a lack of orders and cashflow difficulties.

All but seven staff were laid off with immediate effect with unions accusing the Scottish government of letting the firm fail despite months of warning and a personal pledge from First Minister Alex Salmond.

The shipyard’s order books stood nearly empty after the yard had recently completed work on a portion of the new navy aircraft carriers and a pair of new ferries for island routes.

But an unlikely saviour came forward yesterday — the owners of a local transport operator.

McGill’s Buses joint boss Sandy Easdale said: “This is a highly skilled workforce and it is a vital business for our area.

“With government assistance, both in Edinburgh and London, I am sure we can secure orders.”