NHS bosses in Essex have been accused of reneging on a pay deal and withholding £3,000 in wages owed to staff.

In August, East Suffolk & North Essex NHS Trust, which runs Colchester Hospital, agreed to regrade healthcare support staff in recognition of their responsibilities.

Public-sector union Unison said that some of the trust’s longest-serving support staff, who had been historically underpaid, have received thousands of pounds less than they were promised.

The union also claims some staff who do night and weekend shifts have received nothing in compensation.

Unison Eastern regional officer Lucas Bertholdi-Saad said the support workers had had a “nightmare before Christmas” when the promised money was not in their pay packets.

“[The trust] must do the right thing and give staff their due,” he said.

Trust chief executive Nick Hulme said: “We will continue to work with Unison and talks are ongoing.”