A sacked P&O Ferries worker says it is a "disgrace" that an investigation has dropped plans to launch criminal proceedings against the ferry firm after it fired nearly 800 staff earlier this year.

An investigation by Government agency the Insolvency Service said no criminal action would be taken against the company as there was "no realistic prospect of a conviction". A civil investigation is ongoing.

But that has enraged John Lansdown from Herne Bay.

He worked as a sous chef on the Pride of Canterbury and saw his career disappear in March when the boats were called back to Dover for news of the dismissals to be delivered by video message.

He recalls: "It was one of the most devastating days of my life. Those ships we worked on they were not just our workplaces but our homes for half a year and the people we worked with became a seafaring family. We and the 800 families had that all ripped apart - it was a grave injustice."

He rejected what he described as an "unlawful sacking package" which he described as being "take the money, go away and keep quiet and we'll replace you with cheap workers".

And he has been left furious at the latest inaction by the Government.

"The race to the bottom has well and truly begun," he reflected.

"The Government has allowed P&O and its parent company DP World to get away with this. Now this will give unscrupulous employers the green light to do exactly the same thing."

Logistics giant DP World is owned by the Dubai ruling royal family and, earlier this week, announced record breaking profits for the first six months of the year.

Adds Mr Lansdown: "I did not take the package, I wanted to take the fight to them, I have an employment tribunal claim lodged against P&O for unfair dismissal but in the great scheme of things it's nothing. It would be a moral victory if I won but the Government has the real power to punish them and they've done nothing meaningful at all. It's a disgrace.

"Transport Minister Grant Shapps has put the interests of the Dubai government over the best interests of the British people.

"It's such a bitter pill to follow. The right thing to do, under these circumstances, would be to let a court decide but the Government has decided to chicken out.

"It's been challenging for me and my family - I've experienced mental health issues - and not a day goes by when I don't see or hear about the very real impact of P&O has had on the mental and physical health of my former colleagues."

During hearings at Westminister, P&O Ferries' chief executive, Peter Hebblethwaite, admitted the company broke the law by not consulting on the redundancies before the announcement. He said failure to act immediately could have put the future of the company in doubt.