Construction workers sacked during the building of the new Wembley stadium have been treated "abysmally", a union leader said today.

Kevin Curran, general secretary of the GMB, visited the sacked steelworkers, who have mounted a picket line at the site since their dismissal last month.

He told the men: "You were brought here to contribute your skills in the construction of Wembley, the country's most prestigious sporting site, a stadium of dreams.

"You have been served very badly by the companies you have worked for, when they had a duty to look after you.

"You arrived here in good faith, some of you from distant homes and families. As a reward for your efforts, you were sacked for no good reason.

"Your lack of protection against your sackings shows clearly the injustice that exists in employment law. The GMB will do all it can to end that injustice."

Members of the GMB and Amicus have staged a protest at the site since having their employment contracts cancelled following a row over hours.

Some of the workers today picketed a meeting of the Amicus national executive to urge the union to make the dispute official.