STAFF at the closure threatened Range warehouse in Mitchel­dean sent a clear message that they do not want a life on benefits.

They gathered outside the distribution centre, where multi-millionaire Chris Dawson's retail empire began, to read a statement.

A 90-day redundancy consultation involving 275 staff started on April 2 and two days of "one-to-one" sessions exploring potential future options were due to take place yesterday and today (Tuesday and Wednesday).

The company – CDS/The Range – wants to transfer the work of the warehouse which serves stores to a more modern facility at Doncaster.

An online shopping operation will remain at the Vantage Point business village.

The company does not recognise any unions so the workers have elected their own representatives.

One of them, John Pitcher, read the statement outside the warehouse on Monday afternoon.

He said: "At CDS/The Range after July 2 we as a workforce will have lost the right to work and get on in life.

"It is ironic that the staff here at Mitcheldean are being made redundant while the company expands the business.

"As a workforce we want to work and challenge David Cameron, George Osborne and local Conservative MP Mark Harper plus local district councillors to attract that business to the Forest of Dean which is now on the verge of being an unemployment blackspot.

"David Cameron, George Osborne, Mark Harper, local councillors; we are workers, we don't want benefits.

"Find us the work. We want to work."

He said staff understand the decision to move to more modern facilities but the feeling among workers was of "gloom and despondency".

The company says that the proposed transfer to a facility operated by distribution company DHL at Thorne in South Yorkshire came after a "strategic review" of the firm's operations.

Workers at Mitchel­dean will be offered the opportunity to relocate to other Range or DHL depots where there are vacancies.

The company has stressed that the decision to close the Mitcheldean warehouse is not a reflection of the quality of work there.