Nursing staff from Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester have taken to the picket line this week, calling for increased pay to ensure safer staffing levels.

The Dorchester nurses have joined thousands across the country taking strike action this week. Not put off by the freezing temperatures, they were seen holding up placards and chanting for safe staffing levels on the roadside outside the hospital today (Thursday).

This is the second consecutive day that members of the Royal College of Nursing across the UK have gone on strike over pay disputes, which they argue is leading to staff shortages.

Leading the picket line in Dorchester, nurse Stacey Markham told Nub News that there were 47,000 staff vacancies across the NHS, leading to an unsafe staffing, and a fair level of pay would help to fill these positions.

"The current level of patient care is now what any of us signed up to," she added.

Dorchester residents have been showing their support for those on strike, with many drivers beeping their horns as they passed the picket line.

Stacey added: "Support has been amazing so far; people have been turning up with donations of hot drinks and bacon baps. The people of Dorchester have been amazing."