Sussex workers made redundant by car maker Daewoo have been told their final payments will be delayed.

The company axed 187 jobs at its Worthing technical centre at Lyons Farm last month.

A letter was delivered by courier on Tuesday night to about 40 workers expecting to receive their redundancy payment yesterday.

The letter read: "Due to organisational difficulties, we have to reschedule your appointment. The balance of your redundancy package will be paid when you attend your interview."

Workers who went in on Thursday and Friday last week got the three months' wages and holiday pay they were promised.

But those who did turn up on Tuesday received only a month's pay and were told their meeting would be rescheduled.

One worker's wife said: "Our concern is that the company is in receivership and if it does fold we will not get any money.

"They just seem to be doing what they like and nobody's doing anything about it. It's very frustrating.

"My husband is in his 50s and it's not easy for him to find another job. When there's a sudden influx of people in such a small area it makes it all the more difficult for people to find alternative work."

A spokesman for Daewoo said the company's president, Jong-Dae Lee, had said payments were not being withheld but delayed and that workers would be kept informed.

She said: "The size of the task of organising everything, which has been done by KPMG, has been underestimated and we have not managed to get everything organised in time."

Richard O'Brien, spokesman for the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union, said: "I can understand people at Daewoo, having been messed about for the last two years, being very suspicious and obviously nervous and not a little confused. But our officer in Worthing is working to get the situation sorted out as soon as possible."