A business rescue company is working with struggling Stead McAlpin textile print firm as workers laid off last week confirmed that they have still not been paid.

Furious workers – made redundant with just two days notice last week – say they are now in dire financial circumstances because they have not been paid either the month’s wages they are owed, nor given any redundancy payments.

A union has described the situation as “disgraceful”.

Workers say they were told by managers that Stead McAlpin, which has been in Cummersdale, near Carlisle, for more than 100 years, will not pay the wages of the 19 workers who lost their jobs.

Instead, bosses say pay and redundancy issues are being handled by Manchester firm EK Employment Law Consultants.

But when approached by The Cumberland News , the firm referred our reporter to Manchester-based Leonard Curtis Business Rescue and Recovery.

On its website, the firm says it specialises in providing the directors of “struggling businesses” with positive strategic advice, allowing them to retain control and deal with debt and financial problems.

Neither EK Employment Law Consultants, Leonard Curtis, nor Stead McAlpin, would comment yesterday.

Carlisle man Brian Dudley, 59, who has worked at the factory since 1975 and was among those

made redundant, said he could not understand how Stead McAlpin could legally withhold the wages it owed while at the same time continuing to trade.

“We’ve been told that we’re going to have to claim the wages that we’ve worked for,” said Brian, a colour mixer, from Morton Park, Carlisle.

“We’ve been made redundant, so fair enough.

“But they should at least pay us what we are owed.

“I’ve been at Stead McAlpin for 43 years and done my job. We went in to ask them where our wages are. We spoke to the business manager and the co-owner Josh Soper. They took us into a room and we asked them where our money was.

“They said they didn’t know what had happened.

“We then asked them straight: ‘Are we going to get our wages?’

“They said Stead McAlpin would not be paying our wages and then they gave us a number to phone.”

Mr Dudley said manager told the redundant workers they would have to submit written claims if they wanted the money they are owed – their wages, and any redundancy money.

They were told to direct their questions to the EK Employment Law Consultancy in Manchester.

Mr Dudley added: “Years ago, it was a great place to work but it’s just been run down.”

Chris Oates, 57, who worked at the firm for 38 years before he was made redundant last week, said: “None of us are getting any answers from them. I’m getting calls from lads who were made redundant who are just about in tears because they can’t find out what’s going on.

“How can they treat us in this way?”

Chris’ wife, Amanda, added: “Families have been left with no food in the house, in some cases; and with no electricity because they can’t top up their meters; and rent and mortgage payments will be missed.”

The workers said they have received only one pay rise in the last nine years.

The Cumberland News went with Mr Oates and Mr Dudley as they visited the factory yesterday and confronted a senior manager, asking him if they would be paid.

“I wouldn’t be happy,” the manager admitted when asked how he would feel in their situation. He added: “I can’t give you any answers. This is well above my pay grade.”

Mally Carruthers, from the Unite union, which has 20 members at the factory, said: “What happening at Stead McAlpin is absolutely disgraceful. It’s also reflective of the appalling employment laws that we now have in the UK. If I was one of the remaining workers, I’d be worried that I was working for nothing.”

Stead McAlpin was launched in 1835, the firm being rescued nine years ago by the Lancashire textile business of R Soper Limited.