Two businesses in the East End have been named and shamed for failing to pay their workers the minimum wage.

Don’t Panic London, a creative content agency in Elder Street, Spitalfields, and Uno Cars in Skylines Village, Limeharbour, both feature on the shame list of 359 companies.

Don’t Panic underpaid an employee by £3,310.61 and a worker at minicab firm lost out to £830.69.

The list complied by the government is released annually and for the first time includes companies that failed to pay the new National Living Wage rate, which is currently £7.20 for workers aged 25 and over.

The most prolific offenders were companies in the hairdressing, hospitality and retail trade and the most used excuses for underpaying staff included using tips to top up pay, docking wages to pay for their Christmas party and making staff pay for their own uniforms out of their salary.

Margot James, Business Minister, said: “Every worker in the UK is entitled to at least the national minimum or living wage and this government will ensure they get it.

“That is why we have named and shamed more than 350 employers who failed to pay the legal minimum, sending the clear message to employers that minimum wage abuses will not go unpunished.”