An unemployed builder claims he was told by the Job Centre to turn down work because of the size of his feet.

John Smith, 41, from Stockbridge, was offered work on a construction site through an employment agency last Thursday but was short of the size 15 boots he needed to carry out the task.

The Job Centre, in Keighley, has an Advisor’s Discretionary Fund to help people “overcome the last barrier” to employment, including paying for their work equipment and uniform.

But rather than handing out cash to clients, the Job Centre has contracts with individual companies which then invoice the organisation. Keighley Job Centre uses Richard Speak & Co, in Lawkholme Crescent, for workmen’s boots — but it did not stock Mr Smith’s large size.

Mr Smith said: “I went to Hargreaves Ltd, on High Street, instead and they had the size 15 boots I needed for £40.

“So I went back to the Job Centre and asked if I could get the boots there instead but I was told I couldn’t because their contract wasn’t with Hargreaves and they couldn’t give me the cash.

“They said instead I had to borrow the money from friends or family. I tried but there was no chance, so I was told I’d have to turn the job down. I have been unemployed for two years and waiting for an opportunity like this to come up so I feel angry and disgusted.

“I feel like I had to give up that job all because the Job Centre has a contract for boots with someone else.”

Mr Smith — a father of girls aged 14 and 10 — from Prior Street, managed to raise the money with help from his partner, Susan Wardle, who has a part-time job at a fish and chip shop. He eventually bought the boots from Hargreaves and the Job Centre refunded the money when it saw a receipt– but it was too late for Mr Smith and the job had already been given to someone else.

Ms Wardle said: “It was a push to get the money, I am supporting my children on a small wage and this just feels like a total refusal by the authorities to help just because of red tape.”

Mr Smith, who is trained to the level of ‘preparer’ on a construction site, said he had done all he could to get a job and described the last two years of unemployment as ‘total hell’.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said it aimed to help people into work.

She said: “If a lack of clothing or other equipment is preventing someone taking a job, we will consider paying for it, usually through a supplier.

“Where this is not possible, we will give the customer the money once they have bought the item and given us the receipt.

“It would be inappropriate for us to give out taxpayers’ money without first getting proof of purchase.”