NHS staff across Dorset are taking part in a second bout of industrial action after failing to receive a recommended pay rise.

Nurses, cleaners, porters, midwives and radiographers are just some of the professions staging a four-hour stoppage this morning.

The offer would only see those at the top of their pay band offered a one per cent rise.

Health members from UNISON and The Royal College of Midwives are taking part in a picket line outside Dorset County Hospital.

Jon Dunn, the area organiser for UNISON, said they had received a lot of support.

He said: "There's been lots of cars and lots of vans tooting their horns in support of the action we are taking.

"We are anticipating all our members will be out on strike. This is a picket line but not everyone turns up to the picket line. We have restrictions on numbers.

"We have a good turnout and we're anticipating more people will come out over the course of the four hours."

Mr Dunn said health members were taking action because the government had failed to honour the recommendations made by the NHS pay review body.

He said: "They ignored that action. We are telling them we are not going away.

"If necessary we will escalate this action because our cause is just."

The strike started at 7am and is expected to finish at 11am. This will be followed by six days of action short of strike action when workers will work to rule.

Mr Dunn said 'work to rule' meant staff would be taking their unpaid breaks.

He said: "Normally NHS staff work right the way through. They don't take their lunch breaks.

"They don't take their owed breaks they are expected under health and safety regulations.

"Their work loads are very high and they have got a 100 per cent commitment to patient care."

Mr Dunn said this didn't mean there would be a drop in services, suggesting a responsible approach would be taken.

Tara Putt, work place representative for The Royal College of Midwives, is also on the picket line.

She said: "We are striking because the government have ignored the NHS pay review body which is an independent body which makes the recommendations for our pay uplift.

"The government have ignored the one per cent they recommended.

"The Royal College of Midwives will continue to take industrial action until it is listened to.

"There is clear evidence that shows NHS staff who are demoralised cannot deliver the quality of care for NHS users, including mothers and babies.

"An investment in staff is an investment in better care."

A spokeswoman for Dorset County Hospital said: "Very few staff from the hospital took strike action and services to patients were unaffected."