Renfrewshire Council has been urged to “exhaust every avenue” to support clothing company M&Co after it called in administrators.

An emergency motion was passed which commits the local authority to doing “all that it can” to assist the company and staff.

The clothing retailer, which has its headquarters at Inchinnan Business Park, has struggled to cope with rising costs amid a drop in consumer confidence.

Financial advisory firm Teneo was appointed as administrator and is exploring a potential sale of the business.

Elected members raised the issue at Thursday’s council meeting.

Councillor Graeme Clark, the Labour group's economy and regeneration spokesperson, said: “This is incredibly important and the reason it’s an emergency motion is because things have just happened within the last couple of days.

“I, as all of us, was deeply concerned to hear that the administrator had been called in to M&Co, who is a major employer within the Renfrewshire district.

“This is a very simple motion to say that we will do all that we can to help M&Co at this time and that we call on the Scottish Government to do the same.”

Councillor Clark described the development as a “canary in the mineshaft situation” and spoke of the challenges of supporting businesses across Renfrewshire during a difficult financial period.

Councillor Sam Mullin, who seconded the motion, said: “I think this is the last thing we wanted to hear – especially the timing of it – but, in saying that, it affects some local people and it will affect local traders.

“I would be asking that we exhaust every avenue to see what we can do to assist in any way possible because M&Co’s been here for quite a long time in Inchinnan industrial estate and it’s just a tragedy.”

Provost Lorraine Cameron said council officers will check what the local authority can do to support the company.

Gavin Park, joint administrator, said previously: “Like many retailers, the company has experienced a sharp rise in its input costs, which has coincided with a decline in consumer confidence, leading to trading challenges.

“Despite a very loyal customer base, particularly in local markets, and a well-recognised brand, the current economic outlook has placed increasing pressure on the company’s cash position.”