SACKED North-East workers last night staged a protest outside the new Wembley Stadium during a star-studded ceremony to mark a milestone in the rebirth of the famous ground.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, England captain David Beckham and head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson attended the topping out event, which saw the completion of the landmark 133-metre high steel arch.

Beckham proclaimed it the ultimate stadium, while Mr Blair thanked all those involved in the construction, saying: "It is a huge landmark for the future.

"This is the best that there can be, we have done it here in Britain, we have made the best and I think we can be hugely proud of what has been achieved."

Meanwhile, police were keeping many of those workers who created the 1,750-tonne arch back as they protested over losing their jobs.

Two hundred workers were sacked last week after being transferred from Darlington-based Cleveland Bridge to Dutch firm Hollandia, which insists that, despite delays, the stadium will be ready on time for the FA Cup final in 2006.

The protestors said they had built the arch - illuminated for the occasion - and wanted to be allowed to build the rest of the stadium.

Welder Ian Robson, 51, from Middlesbrough, said: "We want our jobs back in there to build a world-class stadium.

"We did that arch, with the help of Cleveland Bridge, and we have as much pride in that project as anyone else."

Graham Caster, 45, also from Middlesbrough, a GMB shop steward on the project, said: "This is a peaceful demonstration. We want our jobs back with the same terms and conditions we had at Cleveland Bridge."

Earlier, 11 Dutch Hollandia workers were reported to have downed tools and left the site in support of their British colleagues.

One told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "We stopped working, we support the guys. We are not coming back until this is solved."

He said no work had been done on-site in the past week, fuelling speculation that the stadium's completion date will be delayed.

The project has been surrounded by controversy since Cleveland Bridge pulled out after becoming embroiled in a row over cash with the stadium's main contractor, Multiplex.

The company's workers were offered new contracts with Hollandia but claim they were sacked after asking for time off to visit their families in the North-East.

They began an unofficial picket, which became official yesterday.

Tom Kelly, spokesman from the GMB, said it was "ironic the erection of the arch is being celebrated when the people who built the arch are outside because they have been sacked" .

He estimated that about 80 members had gathered for the official picket, with 150 more joining in an unofficial capacity.

Cleveland Bridge said it was disappointed not to have been invited to last night's ceremony.

A spokeswoman said: "Cleveland Bridge worked within the design, engineering and construction teams at the new Wembley Stadium for over two years.

"There is no doubt that the arch is a brilliant piece of engineering and one of which we are very proud."