Two entrepreneurs are launching a firm with smoked salmon and seafood named after Burns’ sweetheart Mary Campbell.

Karen Baxter and Allan McDougall were turned down by banks for a loan to start Argyll Smokery but received £25,000 from Glasgow-based not-for-profit lender DSL Business Finance to launch the business.

The firm will be based in Dunoon, near the statue to Mary Campbell, who was immortalised in Burns song The Highland Lassie.

The ambitious couple and business partners, who have more than 20 years experience in the fish smoking and processing business, had originally secured finance from a bank but it was withdrawn at the last minute.

Karen said: “When the credit crunch hit, bank lending criteria changed and our loan was withdrawn.

“Allan and I have a huge amount of experience in the industry but decided it was time to run our own business. It’s in our blood to do this.”

Argyll Smokery plans to source the highest quality Scottish fish and shellfish for the Highland Mary brand from local, sustainable sources.

Their specialities will include smoked prawns, mussels, oysters, clams and scallops, well as smoked hot and cold Scottish salmon.

Karen said: “We want our products to be as pure as possible.

“We’ll be supplying various wholesale, trade, retail and mail order customers and hope to be key suppliers to Loch Fyne Oysters, Cairndow, Argyll Seafoods, Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group and Inverawe, which will to create a wider niche range.”

DSL, the Govan based business lender, which specialises in giving loans to small businesses and social enterprises, came to the rescue with an alternative funding package.

The company, formally known as Developing Strathclyde Ltd, runs a £1.5million loan fund and can offer loans of up to £30,000 to small and start-up firms under the Government’s Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme.

General manager Eunice Lancaster said: “Karen and Allan have a great business idea.”