An industrial tribunal hearing into the sacking of dozens of workers at car parts firm Friction Dynamics has heard claims they sabotaged the factory before leaving.

Eighty-seven employees at the Caernarfon plant were dismissed after striking over pay and conditions put forward by the company's American owner, Craig Smith.

Workers were on strike for nine weeks

But Mr Smith alleges a computer shipping password had been deliberately changed, meaning goods destined for Australia could have ended up in Germany but were spotted in time.

The former workers have picketed the gates of the plant every day since they walked out 18 months ago.

Giving evidence, Mr Smith denied he had said to TGWU official Tom Jones on the second day of the strike: "You've got them out, how are you going to get them back in?"

Mr Smith also alleged safety instructions on machinery had been taken down on the last shift, ahead of temporary staff being brought in.

He claimed most unions at the plant had been willing to accept the new pay offer, but the TGWU had caused problems.

Mr Smith denied claims that relations with the workers and unions had deteriorated when he took over running the plant in 2000.

It is also alleged he made no attempt to negotiate with the workers when they began striking before dismissing them.

Caernarfon MP Hywel Williams has led a campaign to support the strikers and said he hoped the tribunal was the "beginning of the end" of the strike.

The hearing in Liverpool is the latest stage in a dispute with management at the plant.

Friction Dynamics has come in for criticism from former Plaid Cymru leader and Caernarfon AM Dafydd Wigley and Bill Morris, leader of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

The workers' plight was eased slightly at Christmas last year when local businesses clubbed together to throw a festive party for the sacked staff.

Mr Williams said the workers had the backing of other politicians and the local community.

'Just outcome'

"This long-running strike has affected the whole community and has won support from workers throughout the country.

"Plaid Cymru has been proud to support the workers every step of the way, but the silence from some quarters has been loudly heard.

"It is now essential that members of all parties ensure that they support the strikers through this final stage and join with them in securing a just outcome."

The legal industrial dispute started in April last year.

But two days after unanimously voting against the changes, which included the introduction of a four-day week without overtime, the workers were sacked and replaced with lower paid staff.

Last year, Craig Smith, the American owner of the plant, managed to retain control of the factory under an arrangement he reached with a group of creditors, who were suing him in a multi-million dollar fraud case.