Computer workers claim they are being "cheated" out of cash after being offered redundancy packages far worse than they expected.

Technology consultancy firm Accenture is axing more than 100 IT jobs at its offices in Southdown View Road, Worthing, after taking on the staff from electricity firm Seeboard.

Some staff have been offered other jobs within the firm, but many are being made redundant on Accenture terms when they believed they were entitled to superior Seeboard arrangements.

Many were employed by Seeboard until the firm outsourced its IT department to Accenture.

The workers claim they were assured their terms and conditions were protected, but have now been offered Accenture redundancy terms instead.

Seeboard staff made redundant would be entitled to six months' salary as well as two weeks' pay for every year worked.

Instead, they are having to accept the Accenture terms of a month's salary for every year worked.

One staff member, who did not want to be named, said: "A great deal of ex-Seeboard employees are being cheated out of a considerable sum of money. We feel badly let down.

"Most staff are very unhappy about the severance terms we have been offered."

Some 80 job losses are planned for the next three months, with 30 staff staying on-site before taking redundancy next June.

The overhaul follows Seeboard's takeover by London Electricity Group in June, creating the new company EDF Energy.

The Worthing IT jobs are being moved to Plymouth, where the firm's billing department will be based.

Accenture had previously denied any redundancies had been finalised, but a spokesman has now told The Argus: "About 80 staff have been issued with notices of redundancies. Others have been redeployed.

"The redeployment programme is ongoing and Accenture intends to consult with staff on a regular basis."

He refused to comment on the redundancy terms being offered and the allegations that staff had been misled.