Workers leave Thamesteel after learning the firm was going into administation

Jobless workers from the stricken Thamesteel plant will visit Parliament today as part of their campaign to keep the site open.

Dozens of former employees will lobby MPs in the House of Commons over the future of the Sheerness steelworks.

Organised by the Community trade union, they will meet MPs including shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna to raise concerns about jobs.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson, who said he is working hard to secure a buyer for the site, will also meet the steelworkers.

Thamesteel, in Brielle Way, went into administration in January.

The 350 workers were given just 48 hours notice of redundancy and were not paid for working January.

So far, no alternative investor has come forward with an offer for the business.

Michael Leahy, general secretary of Community, said: "The workforce have been left with very little information about what's happening at this moment.

"The tragedy is there are no alternative skilled manufacturing jobs in the area. That's why it's so critical that every effort goes into our campaign to keep the plant open.

"The lobby of MPs will, we hope, make the government sit and up, listen and act before another slice of our manufacturing industry disappears."

Louisa Howells, spokesman for Thamesteel administrators Mazars, said the firm was hoping to issue an update early next week.