CLEVELAND Bridge workers were once again facing losing their jobs this week after the company announced it was stopping all work on the new Wembley Stadium.

The engineering firm issued a statement saying it was taking legal action against Multiplex, the main contractor at Wembley Stadium, for alleged breach of contract.

It said the decision to stop work on steel fabrication for the stadium would 'cause a shortfall in workload and may result in redundancies at Darlington.'

The company would not reveal how many workers are likely to go but it is understod that it will be between 50 and 100.

The news comes a month after Cleveland Bridge, which employs about 400 people in Darlington, revealed it was stopping on-site work at Wembley and handing over to Dutch company Hollandia.

Two hundred and fifty workers on-site faced redunancy but most of their jobs were saved when the new contractor agreed to take them on.

At the time Cleveland Bridge intended to continue off-site work for Wembley but a row over money with Multiplex has put paid to that. The company said: "Cleveland Bridge has instructed its solicitors to issue proceedings against Multiplex in the Court of Technology and Construction in London."

Managers were due to meet union leaders yesterday to discuss the job losses.

Jimmy Skivington, of the GMB union, said workers had been told the decision would have a serious impact on the Darlington plant.

"A few weeks ago it was said that the situation at Wembley would not affect the work that had to be done at Darlington but things have moved on apace since then."

Gerry Hunter, from Amicus, described the news as a bitter blow.

"This Wembley showpiece they are doing is leaving a sour taste in the mouths of people from Darlington who are going to lose their jobs. It is no longer the theatre of dreams."

A Multiplex spokeswoman said the company would not comment until it had taken legal advice.