The GMB says the contract should have gone to Appledore

The GMB wants the people who took the decision, including local politicians, to face a forum consisting of union activists, business and community leaders.

The protest follows the decision to give the contract to build new vessels for the Devon and Cornwall Torpoint Ferry to Ferguson's, based on the Clyde in Scotland, and not to Appledore Shipbuilders.

Those behind the decision, the Torpoint Ferry Committee, said, if the contract had gone to Appledore just because it was a local firm, it could have led to problems.

Politicians were elected to represent the interests of local people and, in our view, they have failed Gary Smith, GMB union

The GMB believes the decision was taken behind closed doors and will have a hugely detrimental effect on the economy of the South West.

GMB senior organiser Gary Smith said: "if the boot was on the other foot I do not believe Scottish councillors would have ignored a struggling shipyard on their doorstep and awarded the contract to a company in the South West.

"These politicians were elected to represent the interests of local people and, in our view, they have failed.

"They are consciously supporting a process whereby the South West will be turned into an industrial and economic dustbowl."

The ferry travels between Plymouth and Torpoint in Cornwall

The joint chair of the Torpoint Ferry Committee, Councillor George Wheeler, says the Scottish company produced the best bid and not to accept it would have been a breach of business law.

"We received very clear legal advice that we had offered the tender on the basis of very clear criteria," he said.

"To divert from those criteria would have put the committee in some legal difficulty."

However, Geoff Dean, of Appledore Shipbuilders, said: "The price is usually the issue.

"We believe our price was very close to Ferguson's and, in such circumstances, it is very difficult to accept."

Each ferry will be capable of carrying 73 cars, providing 50% more capacity than the existing ferries.

The new vessels are due for delivery between October 2004 and June 2005.