M&S, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Ralph Lauren said they are shocked by the claims and are working with the factories to remedy any problems for the employees

Workers producing clothes for Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Ralph Lauren in India claim to be 'treated like slaves

In a factory used by Ralph Lauren, employees say they can't go home and have to sleep on the floor

Some employees working in factories in South India claim that they are often only allowed to sleep on the factory floor for two hours before starting work again.

Others say they are denied food, water and bathroom breaks while producing clothes for British supermarkets and shopping streets, the BBC reported today, but the corporation has chosen not to name the factories to protect the whistleblowers' identities.

M&S says it 'carried out an immediate, unannounced audit' of its Indian sites and found 'extraordinary work practices identified that are not acceptable,' but says there was no evidence that staff did not have access to the toilet or water.