Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell has welcomed news that more than 230 coal jobs, many within his constituency, have been saved.
Hargreaves Surface Mining have now bought parts of the collapsed surface mining firm Aardvark, the main trading arm of ATH Resources, for 10.4 million pounds. All 237 employees are being offered new contracts by Hargreaves.
Welcoming the announcement, Mr Mundell said: "This is good news both for those whose livelihoods were threatened and the local communities whose economies depend on these jobs. Scotland's surface mining industry has been going through a particularly bad time in recent months and I am grateful that, for employees of this company at least, there is now light at the end of the tunnel."