The owners of McGill's buses say they will "pursue all avenues" after a woman accused of embezzling money from the firm was acquitted of the crime.

A statement issued by the bus company, owned by James and Sandy Easdale, expressed "surprise and disappointment" over the outcome of a court case involving Margaret Kirkwood.

She had denied taking £113,792 from McGill's Bus Service Limited, while employed as a cashier at their depot in Inchinnan between January and June 2013.

And yesterday she was cleared of all wrongdoing at the conclusion of a trial at Paisley Sheriff Court.

Earlier in the trial one of the jurors, a male, had to be excused for health reasons, leaving fourteen jurors - seven men and seven women.

On Monday the jury began deliberating before delivering their verdict on Wednesday.

Seven of the jurors found Kirkwood guilty, but seven decided she should be acquitted.

But as they had not come to an absolute majority, Sheriff Tom McCartney told them their decision must be one of an acquittal.

The sheriff explained: "Seven of you have found the accused guilty and seven are in favour of an acquittal.

"There needs to be an absolute majority.

"There is not and therefore the verdict must be one of acquittal.

"It is a matter for you whether it is one of not proven or not guilty."

After further short deliberations the jury came back to tell the sheriff they had found the embezzlement charge against Kirkwood not proven and found her not guilty of a second charge that she had concealed criminal property by putting £6,500 in cash towards the purchase of a Hyundai car.

Sheriff McCartney then told Kirkwood: "You have been acquitted of these charges, you are free to go."

Speaking outside court Kirkwood, of Paisley's Glenburn area, said she was delighted at the verdict.

She said: "I've never been so happy in my life."

However a spokesman for McGill’s said the matter wasn't over as far as they were concerned, and they were “reviewing all legal options”.

He added: “We are surprised and disappointed at the verdict and have instructed lawyers to examine everything said in court.

"What is clear is that we were defrauded, that is not in dispute; the crime was investigated by Police Scotland and the Crown prosecuted based on that investigation.

"We are reviewing all legal options open to us to recover the sums defrauded from us.

"Although disappointed by the outcome of the criminal case, this matter is not concluded and we will pursue all avenues open to us.”