AROUND 900 people took unofficial action and stopped work building Total's gas plant in Shetland, leading to the cancellation of a proposed visit by Prime Minister David Cameron.

The dispute centres on an agreement struck at the beginning of the year when workers voted to strike over long travelling times to the site, and having to share a room in the workers' accommodation units.

Those not covered by this agreement, including local Shetland workers, were understood to have been seeking a similar settlement and staged a sit-in in the cafeteria. They went back to work later in the afternoon and the issues will now be discussed by management and unions. Mr Cameron was due to visit on his trip to Shetland