FIFTEEN HGV drivers and mechanics are battling to recover more than £15,000 in unpaid wages after haulage bosses lost a major contract.

Hauliers Alternative Logistics told the workers based at Great Witley and Hoo Farm, Kidderminster, the contract with John Tainton steel stockholders had been "terminated without notice".

In a letter to the men, the Glasgow-based haulage firm alleged the contract had gone to David Curnock, of Worcester, and that under an agreement their employment and wages claim was transferred to them. drivers and mechanics at Great Witley trY to hold onto lorries in their fight for unpaid wages.

But Curnock's director Tim Curnock said the work for Tainton's was being done without a contract and the firm was neither responsible for taking on the Alternative Logistics staff nor liable for paying their wages.

He added there was a possibility of taking on one or two of the drivers if they contacted him.

Several drivers tried to stop the lorries being removed from the Great Witley depot on Tuesday, but after a stand-off lasting a couple of hours agreed to hand over the keys.

Driver Rob Green said: "We wanted to hold onto the lorries as collateral while we tried to get the money owed to us, but in the end we had to give them the keys."

"We've been left high and dry and are taking advice from the Transport and General Workers Union and Citizen's Advice Bureau to see what action we can take."

Mr Curnock said: "I am sorry that they are in this position, but we have not taken a contract over. We don't have any contracts, they can work against you and we prefer to work without them."

He said his firm had been verbally asked to do increasing amounts of haulage work for John Tainton, of Hoo Farm, Kidderminster, since January and had not been offered a contract.

Mr Green, of Gilbert Scott Way, Kidderminster, said the 13 drivers and two mechanics had been employed by Quartermans Transport until it was taken over by Alternative Logistics about 15 months ago.

He said the men were owed an average of £450 each for last week, plus wages for working a week in hand and expenses.

Keith Mitchell , of Gaffers Transport of Castleford, West Yorkshire, part of the Alternative Logistics group, organised the removal of the lorries from Great Witley. He refused to discuss what would happen to them.

A spokesman for Alternative Logistics said outstanding wages would be paid, although he claimed the men should have been paid by David Curnock from April 4 when the contract with John Tainton ended.

But the men were not informed until last Saturday and were driving Alternative Logistics' lorries last week.