FERGUSON'S of Port Glasgow has lost another multi-million pound order to Poland - amid claims of unfair subsidies.

The blow comes only weeks after the British government gave a Caledonian MacBrayne ferry order to Poland instead of the Port yard, which could run out of work by the end of next year if no new contracts are won.

The latest orders are for three lighthouse ships. Two were for Trinity House Lighthouse Service and the other for the Northern Lighthouse Board.

Sources told the Telegraph: `There are real fears that very clever unfair subsidies are being given to Polish yards and this is depriving British yards of work - but nothing has been proved.` A spokesman for Trinity House said: `We are not aware of any unfair subsidies. The Polish yard's tender was the most cost effective and beat the other four tenderers by a substantial margin.` And both Trinity and Northern emphasised: `The tendering process followed the requirements of the European Union procurement directives.` Port MSP Trish Godman said today: `I am very disappointed about this news. We can't compete with countries that pay poverty wages. Maybe there should be a European minimum wage.` She added: `Ferguson's have a proven track record, including building two lighthouse ships, the Pharos and Pole Star, but many ships built abroad have problems.` She said the Scottish Executive had investigated claims of unfair subsidies being paid by some European countries, but nothing had been proved.

Ferguson's shop steward, Alex Logan, said: `We have around 300 people at the moment. We've just delivered a ferry for Torpoint in the south of England, another is being fitted out and a third is on the stalks. We also have a fishery protection ship on the stalks, but we're worried that work could run out if we don't get new orders.` Ferguson's are chasing orders for two fishery protection ships and a couple of Caledonian MacBrayne vessels.