Workers at Dragon LNG have downed tools this morning, following disputes over pay and working conditions.

Portuguese employees of contractor Atlanco claim that they are paid below minimum wage and are forced to work seven days a week with no paid holiday or sick leave.

They told the Western Telegraph that they do not have copies of their contracts and do not receive proper pay slips, rather an excel spreadsheet.

"We have signed something," said 30-year-old Luis Taeorega from Lisbon. "But we don't have a copy. Everything is in English, you don't know what you are signing."

Workers say that in Portugal they were told by Atlanco that their accommodation , travel to work and to and from Portugal would be covered by the company. Now, they claim, it is being taken out of their pay, with nothing written on their pay slips to say how much has been deducted.

"They told us one thing in Portugal, but in reality everything is the opposite," said Paul Ribero, also from Lisbon.

Atlanco workers say they are paid £4.15 an hour, well below the minimum wage. Workers told the Western Telegraph that their working conditions on the site are becoming unbearable.

They say they have had to buy their own protective clothing, including waterproofs and boots and when the recent foul weather conditions have stopped construction on the site they were told to continue working. They claim they have no paid holidays and work seven days a week.

One worker told the Western Telegraph that his brother had been ill for three days and because of this was sent back to Portugal. They also claim that sick pay is non existent.

"If we say we are not going to work they tell us they have ten or 20 more workers in Portugal to replace us," said Luis.

Despite this the men are determined to stay out until Atlanco provides better conditions and clear pay slips.

"We can stay here at the gate for one week, one month, we just need our receipts. We need to know how much is deducted.

""We just ask for better conditions. We cannot accept this anymore."

A spokesman for Dragon LNG declined to comment, saying that the issue was a matter for Whessoe Oil and Gas ltd, their main contractors.

Whessoe have also declined to comment on the dispute.