UCATT has written to Leeds City Council claiming that breaks have been cut by ten minutes leaving the union “fearing for workers health and safety on this physically demanding project”.

But BAM Nuttall site management have been left “stunned” by the allegations.

A company spokesman said: ” We know UCATT have been on the site but no-one made any contact with the project management.

“Breaks are 60 minutes as per the Working Rule Agreement and in the recent hot weather we have been handing out free water and using lightweight PPE to make everyone more comfortable.

UCATT said it was contacted by workers on the Thwaites Mill section of the £45m flood scheme claiming breaks had been cut from an hour a day to just 50 minutes.

Rob Morris, Regional Secretary of UCATT Yorkshire, said: “Construction workers need decent breaks in order to recover and refuel after undertaking strenuous work.

“If they are denied decent breaks, tiredness and fatigue kicks in and accidents are more likely.

“We have tried to resolve this issue a number of times with the site manager without success.”