THE jobs of more than 200 North-East workers sacked from the new Wembley Stadium project have been saved, union leaders announced last night.

The jobs of more than 200 construction workers were lost after their employer, Darlington Cleveland Bridge, stopped working on the site because of a row over money with the main contractor, Multiplex.

The builders, members of the GMB and Amicus, said work on the £737m stadium had virtually ground to a halt because of the dispute.

Talks between the unions and employers in London yesterday produced a deal which will be put to a mass meeting of workers today.

Under the deal, the workers would be reinstated to the project while further negotiations were held about their claim for compensation for the three weeks they have not been working on the project.

Multiplex had told the unions it would not hold talks until picketing by workers outside the Wembley site stopped.

Kevin Curran, general secretary of the GMB, said: "We are very pleased with the outcome. It demonstrates that whatever legal threats are made, the GMB will stick by its members."

Many of the workers attended the TUC Congress in Brighton on Monday to lobby for support for their case.

Multiplex has denied claims that the stadium is behind schedule, insisting it will be ready for the 2006 FA Cup final.