Sixty contract workers were still on strike at Didcot power station today in support of protests against the use of foreign labour at the Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire.

An RWE npower spokesman, which owns the power station, confirmed the workers – all contractors on maintenance projects at Didcot A power station – were on strike, but no npower staff were involved.

The strike would not affect the running of the power station, the spokesman added.

Eighty workers downed tools at 1pm on Thursday and 60 continued the walkout on Friday.

Almost 900 workers constructing a new plant at the Lincolnshire refinery were sacked following unofficial strike action on Thursday.