AS SCOTTISH voters prepare to go to the polls and decide on the future of their country tomorrow it will be “business as usual” for the Bolton-base of a Scottish firm, regardless of the result.

Soft drinks company A.G Barr, which produces the popular IRN-BRU drink has a regional head office based at the Middlebrook retail park in Horwich.

There are 80 employees working at the office, covering areas such as marketing, research and development, consumer care and IT support.

There are also more than a hundred sales employees who use the Middlebrook site as a base to operate from.

Concerns had been raised about the future of the firm’s status in Bolton if the Scottish public vote in favour of independence, by Bolton West MP Julie Hilling.

But company chiefs have moved to reassure people that the firm’s focus will “remain the same.”

Ms Hilling said: “I have real concern about what will happen to the rest of the UK economy should Scotland vote for independence.

“We have got A.G Barr in Horwich, which makes IRN-BRU and distributes it throughout the whole of the UK — what effect will independence have on their position in Horwich? It is worrying for us all.”

Responding to Ms Hilling’s concerns, a spokesman for A.G Barr said: “A.G.Barr has operated in the local area for nearly 50 years and it is business as usual.

“Our brands are for everyone and our primary focus remains the same, to develop brands which our consumers and customers love.

“Our regional office is based in Middlebrook and is part of our well balanced operational footprint across the UK, we employ people to serve our customers wherever they are and we are very pleased with how we are set up and the culture we are building across the company."

Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm north of the border on Thursday and 97 per cent of Scotland’s population will be eligible to cast a vote to either become an independent country or remain a part of the United Kingdom.

It is thought that the results of the referendum could be known as early as 7am on Friday morning.

Bolton-based Scotsman Ian McNab, of the Bolton Scottish Dance Club, said he is “very concerned” about the potential ramifications of independence.

He said: “There is the very important question of the currency and the backing for it. Alex Salmond (Scotland’s First Minister) cannot dictate to the rest of UK despite what he says and Scotland may not be allowed into the European Union. There is a real possibility that Scottish business could suffer in the first few years of independence — which would have a huge impact on their budget and spending.”