Shipyard workers continue strike

Unions say there is solid support for the strike

Another 24-hour strike is taking place at a north Devon shipyard.

It is the second day of action by workers at Appledore Shipyard who are protesting about pay.

Union members are demanding the same rates of pay from Babcock Marine as employees at the company's other sites, including Devonport in Plymouth.

GMB and Unite said support among the shipyard's 200-strong workforce had been solid for the first day of strike action on Friday.

Barry Hooper from Unite said many of his colleagues had left the shipyard because of the levels of pay.

Aircraft carriers

The unions have four more days of industrial action planned over the next two weeks.

A spokeswoman for Babcock Marine said the company would not comment on the strike

The Appledore yard is earmarked to help build hull sections for two of the UK's next generation of aircraft carriers.

HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will be the largest ships ever built for the Royal Navy at nearly three times the size of the current Invincible-class carriers.

They are expected to be completed between 2014 and 2016.

Babcock, which is part of the UK Aircraft Carrier Alliance, secured the deal for the carriers in July 2007.