Coastguard staff strike over pay

Union members at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have gone on strike over pay levels.

The Public and Commercial Services Union said about 700 of its members walked out at 0700 BST for 24 hours.

The union said staff were paid barely over the minimum wage and less than other emergency services.

The agency said the strike involved 400 rescue co-ordinators, not the rescuers themselves and that people at sea in distress would be helped as usual.

Coastguard staff held the first strike in their history in March, closing almost half of Britain's 19 rescue centres, according to the union.