Dozens of workers at Sheerness Docks are facing redundancy.

Bosses at the Port, off Bridge Road, Sheerness, have cited restructuring as the reason for the proposed job losses.

The Times Guardian has heard that several workers were released from their contracts last week and many more are expected to go by the end of March.

So far there have been 20 applications for voluntary redundancy, but there will have to be a 'small number’ of compulsory redundancies too.

A spokesman for Peel Ports said it would be less than 50 redundancies, adding: "We are currently undertaking restructuring within Medway/Port of Sheerness and it is with great regret that redundancies will be required in order to meet the business needs.

"We are hopeful that the majority of the redundancies will come from volunteers, however, unfortunately it may be necessary for compulsory redundancies."

The company refused to reveal from which area of the business the redundancies would be made.

The news comes just a week after workers at HBC Engineering Solutions in Power Station Road, Halfway, Sheppey, discovered they would be losing their jobs.

Staff were told last Tuesday that the company would be completely winding down its operations. Five of the 31 remaining employees, who had escaped two previous rounds of redundancies, were made redundant with immediate effect.