Striking binmen who staged a three-day occupation of their depot have been hailed as trade union heroes.

Members of the GMB will receive Brighton Trades Council's highest accolade, a commemorative miner's lamp, at its annual meeting tonight.

Binmen won widespread public support for their stand against unpopular private waste contractor Sita last summer.

The French-owned firm was sacked from its £6.7 million contract after poor relations between workers and managers culminated in industrial action.

At the height of the dispute, more than 100 sacked workers staged a sit-in at the Hollingdean depot in Brighton.

Brighton and Hove City Council finally took the refuse service back in-house after 14 years while uncollected rubbish piled up in the streets.

Bill North, general secretary of the trades council, said GMB members were an inspiration for their spirited stand against Sita and privatisation in general.

He said: "They are an example to the rest of the trade union movement. They did a fantastic job and they are continuing to campaign against privatisation."

The miner's lamp, given to the trades council for its support during the miners' strike, is presented annually for outstanding service to trade unionism.

This will be only the second occasion the lamp has been presented to a group of workers rather than an individual.

Mr North said the decision to bestow it on the binmen had been unanimous in light of their actions.

He said: "We have a Government committed to privatising everything with no major political party providing an alternative.

"Direct action like this is absolutely necessary in these circumstances."

GMB union organiser Gary Smith said: "We will be delighted to receive some sort of recognition on our members' behalf."