COASTGUARDS in the south were today due to take part in a second 24-hour walkout over pay with warnings that the strike action is putting lives at risk.

Up to 700 Maritime and Coastguard Agency workers are expected to leave their posts across the UK with around 50 staff from Hampshire's Solent rescue centre, and neighbouring rescue centre Portland, set to join them.

Union leaders say they are taking the second day of action after management and the Government refused to increase "pitiful pay levels"

that start at £12,097.

Skeleton crews have been put in place to cover the Hampshire coast tomake sure that emergency calls are still answered, with calls and rescues being managed at the Strategic Support Centre at the MCA's training centre in Highcliffe.

The MCA says the action is by those who co-ordinate the rescues and will not affect rescuers who are sent out in emergencies.

Union leaders are demanding that coastguards get a £3,000 pay rise to bring them in to line with fellow 999 workers.

Mark Serwotka of the Public and Commercial Services union said: "It is deeply disappointing that management and the Government have refused to talk seriously about resolving the disparities in pay with other emergency service workers and pitiful pay levels that result in coastguard watch assistants receiving a special pay rise because the minimum wage has risen."

Due to the walk-out, Solent's rescue centre at Lee-on- Solent, which covers from Highcliffe in Dorset to Beechey Head in East Sussex, is due to be shut until 7am tomorrow morning.

Unless both sides come to an agreement another strike will take place on April 24.

A MCA spokesman added: "Contingency plans are being drawn up to lessen the risks, but the MCA remain very concerned by this unnecessary and potentially life-threatening action."