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Demonstrators will protest in Sheffield at the planned closure of factories employing disabled workers, warning of the problems they will face finding other jobs.

Hundreds of disabled workers from the Remploy factories will take part in protests both in London and Sheffield, targeting the offices of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Unions have attacked the announced closure of 36 of the 54 Remploy sites this summer, saying more than 1,700 staff faced compulsory redundancy, including 1,500 disabled employees.

Gail Cartmail, assistant general secretary of Unite, said: "​Our members feel outrage that the Government could take jobs from disabled people in this current climate. How are they expected to find work when there are 2.6 million people in the queue in front of them?

"​The Government say that disabled people should be in mainstream employment, but the jobs just aren'​t there for them, and very often when disabled workers are in mainstream employment they suffer excessive levels of bullying and harassment.

"​This decision to sack disabled workers demonstrates how intent this Government is on hitting the most vulnerable in society hardest."​

Phil Davies, national officer of the GMB, said: "​We must show the strength of feeling that taking jobs from disabled people should not be tolerated in a civilised society. It will not improve the country'​s financial situation - it may well make it worse."​

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