STRIKERS on the picket line endured the wind and rain in the third day of industrial action for ambulance workers.

UNISON North West members took part in strike action outside the Blue Light Hub in Ulverston on Monday (January 23) in the escalating dispute over pay and staffing.

From 7am, paramedics, emergency care assistants, ambulance technicians, other 999 crew members and control room staff across five services in England - London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West - joined picket lines.

Around 15,000 Unison ambulance workers were striking for the third time in five weeks. They were also be joined by 5,000 of their NHS colleagues at two hospital trusts in Liverpool.

Further strikes are planned in the coming weeks by nurses and other NHS workers.

It comes after the chancellor was told he can halt industrial action and begin solving the staffing emergency if he comes up with new money to pay health workers "fairly".But Unison warned Jeremy Hunt that if he continues to resist appeals to release extra cash and kickstart talks with unions to end the strikes, the NHS dispute could run for many months.

Strikers in Ulverston braved adverse weather conditions to take part in the industrial action.