Contractors working at Sellafield have resumed strike action in a row over pay.

Members of the Unite union have again held pickets at the nuclear site, with the latest 10 days of action getting under way on Sunday. The action is set to continue until next Wednesday.

The dispute, which involves laundry and environmental operatives, is a result of Unite’s 180 members rejecting Mitie’s pay offer, with workers receiving £8.45 an hour.

Unite regional officer Ryan Armstrong said: “Unite is now upping the ante and putting further pressure on Mitie to end poverty pay at Sellafield.

“Mitie bosses need to see sense and return to the negotiating table with the understanding that poverty pay rates must end at Sellafield.”

This is the third stint of action from members and Len McCluskey, Unite's general secretary, has lent his support.

He used a video message to warn Mitie if it continues to “harass and bully our members taking legitimate strike action, the whole of Unite will come down on your heads.”

A spokesman for Mitie said: "GMB is the only recognised union on our soft services contract at Sellafield. This continues to be a constructive relationship.

"Following recent successful pay negotiations with GMB, we have increased hourly rates for employees at Sellafield. This offer was accepted following a ballot of GMB union members.

"We’ve not seen any impact on services as a result of previous industrial action, and cover will be arranged to ensure the normal continuation of services across the sites and minimalise any potential disruption."

Tony Lywood, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Copeland, said he intends to ask the county council to call on Sellafield to only outsource contracts to companies paying the Real Living Wage.