Workers staging a round-the-clock sit-in at a north Wales factory in a row over unpaid wages still have not received their official letters of dismissal.

The 35 women employed at the Fineline Cymru sewing factory in Rhyl refused to leave the plant on Thursday when they found their wages had not been paid.

Thirty women launched the protest

The dispute began after talks with their employer over money owed to them broke down.

The workers have vowed they will not leave the factory until they have been paid and their case has been backed by North Wales AM Ann Jones.

They have organised a rota to ensure the premises are not left unguarded - preventing their employer bringing in relief workers.

They pledged to stay until they received either their money or official redundancy notices, allowing them to claim benefits.

As the dispute deepened, Ms Jones and Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane showed solidarity with the women by delivering a breakfast of bacon and eggs.

Ms Jones has also offered to go shopping for provisions for them.

The dispute began on Thursday, when the group locked themselves in and stayed overnight after being told the firm was going into receivership.

Some of the workers say they have not been paid for six weeks.

Legal steps

On Friday morning, GMB union official Eileen Turnbull telephoned the company's owner but the two sides have failed to reach an agreement.

Lawyers from GMB are now involved in the negotiations.

The firm, which employs 40 people, is part of a specialist leisurewear chain.

Worker Elaine Round spent all Thursday night in the factory on Cefndy Road with her colleagues.

"There were 30 of us who took part in the sit-in - some have children and had to go home," she said.

'Not paid'

"It all started when a fax was sent saying that the company was going to be put into receivership.

"Us monthly staff haven't been paid for five weeks, and the weekly staff are going into their second week without money."

The staff mounted their protest after they claimed their employer said he wanted to make part of the workforce redundant without paying them severance pay.

Ms Round said they have had a lot of support from the local community.

"We've had food parcels sent to us from the shops in the area," she said.

"We had to launch the sit-in, myself and my friend Iris sat in the office waiting for the phones to ring.

"The other girls sat in the canteen where there's tea and coffee at hand," she said.