Devices which monitor whether staff are at their desks or not have been removed following criticism from staff.

The Telegraph had installed devices that monitor whether journalists were at their desks.

The devices were removed overnight following huge expressions of dissatisfaction from staff.

The devices are seniors made by a company called OccupEye, which "are triggered by both motion and heat".

The Telegraph said, via email, to staff: "In the light of feedback we have received from staff today, it has been decided to withdraw the under-desk sensors immediately.

"We will be looking at alternative ways to gather the environmental sustainability data we need, and will keep staff in touch with any new proposals.”

The devices had been applied to the underside of staff desks. When the devices purpose was queried, an email was sent stating: "Over the weekend we have installed a number of under-desk sensors across some areas in advertising, editorial, technology, production, newspaper sales and marketing. They will be in place for a duration of four weeks.

"These devices are part of our drive to make ?our floors in ?the building as energy efficient as possible and reduce the amount of power we consume for heating, lighting and cooling the building at times of low usage. Accordingly, they are designed to record occupancy across each 24 hour cycle for all seven days of the week to make sure we are making best use of our space in ?the building.

"Over the past few years the Telegraph has achieved a great deal in terms of sustainability. We have reduced our lighting energy use

?"On all perimeter lamps ?by 90%, send 300,000 fewer rubbish bags to landfill and we won a silver award in the Mayor of London’s Business Energy Challenge for reducing our carbon intensity by 29% between 2010 and 2014."