Care Concern and Select Care will take on the running of 12 care homes, including six in the West of Scotland, from Angus Care Group, which went into administration earlier this week.

They will run the homes in the short term, but are also expected to agree terms to take over permanently.

As reported in the Evening Times, Aberdeen-based Angus Care Group operates 12 nursing and residential homes for 500 residents across Scotland, employing 780 people.

They include homes in Bishopton and Bridge of Weir in Renfrewshire as well as four in Ayrshire – two in Patna and one in Dalmellington and Saltcoats. But the firm struggled with mounting debts and cash flow problems.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has written to MSPs to reassure them that an "appropriate response" had been put in place to minimise the impact on services for residents.

The Health Secretary said: "Two well established consultant care providers, Care Concern and Select Care, have been appointed in the short term to oversee the management of care in the 12 homes currently within the Argus Care Group under administration.

"The intention is for these operators to take over in the longer term, subject to appropriate business terms being agreed and regulatory conditions being satisfied."

The 12 homes affected are leased from a landlord called Quercus, which has appointed administrators PKF.

Bryan Jackson, corporate recovery partner with PKF, said: "We will continue to operate the homes as normal while in administration."