SEVEN women are to appear in court following allegations of abuse at a city care firm.

The women, aged between 35 and 63, are due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court in February.

Charges against them vary from threatening and abusive behaviour to assault, and relate to alleged incidents which happened between February 1 and April 3 2015.

As reported by the Evening Times, a number of staff working for care firm Community Lifestyles were suspended and police launched a probe following the allegations of abuse by relatives of a vulnerable service user.

The company has provided care for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents after being selected as one of Glasgow City Council’s social care support providers.

It came out as the top provider for care for the elderly, disabled people and children with disabilities, and in their latest inspection report by the Care Inspectorate, it was rated “excellent” for support and staffing, and “very good” for management.

Police have been investigating the allegations for almost two years and the Crown Office has now confirmed criminal proceedings have been raised against the group.

A Crown Office spokesman said: “The Procurator Fiscal has received a report concerning several women aged between 35 and 63 in connection with alleged incidents said to have occurred between 1 February and 3 April 2015 in Glasgow.

“Criminal proceedings have now been raised in Glasgow Sheriff Court against seven women in respect of these alleged incidents.

“As proceedings are now live it is inappropriate to comment further.”

A Community Lifestyles spokeswoman said the women are no longer employed by the firm, but added they could not provide a comment while legal proceedings were active.