Workers laid off by a furniture makers have vowed to continue a daily protest outside the factory until they learn if they still have jobs.

About 20 employees at Macleans Furniture Ltd in Crowhurst Road, Hollingbury, Brighton, were laid off until further notice on December 16.

The announcement came on the same day workers refused to sign a new contract, saying they had only been given two hours to read it.

Trade union GMB said the employees should not have been asked to sign it at such short notice.

The union also said the company was contractually obliged to give five days' notice of any temporary lay off.

The workers, who have not been paid since the beginning of December, turned up to work yesterday for the first time since Christmas.

They found the factory doors locked but continued to wait outside in protest.

GMB branch secretary Mark Turner said: "We are trying to arrange talks with the company for the end of this week but conversations so far have been fruitless, so we do not hold out much hope."

The firm refused to comment.