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Unemployed construction workers held a demonstration outside the Chatham Jobcentre over the use of foreign workers in the UK.

The union Unite claims that Alstom Power Systems, which is leading the construction of a new gas-fired plant at the E.ON site on the Isle of Grain, is using two sub-contractors which are refusing to consider local labour.

But Alstom denies this saying that of the 15 sub-contractors working at Grain only two are non-UK firms.

A spokesman for Alstom said: “We’re a company that wants to continue investing in the UK and training and recruiting British workers.”

Around 20 people attended Thursday’s protest.

Neil Willougby, regional officer for Unite, said it was a “symbolic” protest.

“The applications for the new power station on Grain have gone through this Jobcentre, more than 600 applied and so far nobody has been employed.”

Another demonstration is planned on Tuesday at the Isle of Grain power station.

A spokesman for Alstom said: "Alstom is not refusing to consider applications from local workers for jobs at its power station construction site in Grain where it has appointed a number of subcontractors to build the facility.

"These subcontractors, the majority of which are UK companies, have appointed their own teams to carry out various parts of the construction work. This is completely normal, legal and standard practice across the industry.

"If and when they need to recruit extra labour, our subcontractors have given us written assurances that they will consider local workers.

"To help with this process, we have invited people from the area to register their interest in potential vacancies at Grain via the Jobcentre in case extra manpower is required, so that their details are already on file for consideration.

"We have not advertised live job vacancies."