FOOD delivery workers are in dispute over pay and staff numbers.

Deliveroo drivers and cyclists who deliver restaurant food in Brighton and Hove held a protest outside the Jubilee library amid their bid to become employees instead of contractors.

Nearly 100 workers gathered to voice their anger with a member of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain there in support.

Mags Dewhurst, from the IWGB, said: "Their intention was to disrupt Deliveroo's Saturday peak period, which was successfully achieved. At the end of the evening, restaurants reported feeling a big impact due to the strike, numerous delays on collecting orders and thousands of pounds' worth of lost revenue. Many restaurant managers and staff expressed sympathy with the riders and horror at their conditions and lack of rights.

"The group unanimously voted to unionise with the IWGB, who are currently challenging the employment status of Deliveroo drivers. Should we win, Deliveroo drivers across the UK will no longer be classified as independent contractors, but as workers or employees, and will get basic employment rights."

A driver for Deliveroo, who wished to remain anonymous, echoed the complaints saying the protect was to try and get a bigger rate of five pounds per job and they want Deliveroo to stop contracting new riders.

The driver said: “There’s too many people for too few jobs.”

In a statement Deliveroo said: “We’re working with a small number of riders in Brighton to understand some specific questions they have raised about how they ride with us and we look forward to continuing our discussions with them. Over one hundred people apply to ride with us every single week in Brighton, which shows working with Deliveroo is extremely popular and valued by riders.

“We are proud to have a strong relationship with our riders and are pleased to be able to offer them flexible, well-paid work which fits around their other priorities, such as studying, starting a small business, or personal commitments.”

The deliverers are demanding £1 more per drop on top of their current £4 pay. They also want a freeze on recruitment to guarantee them more work.