FIVE East Lancashire companies have been named and shamed after failing to pay employees the minimum wage.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has named 260 employers for failing to pay 16,000 workers at least minimum wage rates.

Retail, hairdressing and hospitality businesses were among the most prolific offenders in this round.

Common reasons for errors made included failing to pay workers travelling between jobs, deducting money from pay for uniforms and not paying for overtime.

Retail bosses from five different companies based in Burnley, Pendle, Blackburn with Darwen and Ribble Valley failed to pay their workers wages.

Gisburne Park Estates Limited trading as Ribblesdale Park, in Ribble Valley, failed to pay £1,792 to one worker, while Provectus Medical Limited, on Every Street, Nelson failed to pay £1,224 to an employee.

An employee for Amit Stores Off Licence, on Parliament Street, Burnley, run by Mrs Kalpana Zore, wasn’t paid £310.

Award winning Sandersons (UK) Limited trading as Sandersons Bakery, on Pleckgate Road, Blackburn failed to pay £910 to one worker.

A worker wasn’t paid £274 from their employer R&J (Builders Hardware) Limited, on Croft Head Road, Blackburn.

Cllr Mark Townsend, who is leader of Burnley Council, said: “I think its disgusting that employers do not pay their employees correctly.

“The minimum wage rate has been around for a number of years so there is no excuse for employers to underpay their staff. It’s just exploitation of workers.

“Companies that pay below the minimum wage will face the consequences the law dictates.”

Cllr Phil Riley, who is the senior deputy leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “I think this is outrageous.

“It’s no help to the overall prosperity of the borough for employers to pay their staff so low wages that they have little or no disposable income and can’t take part in the wider regeneration of the borough.”