Health visitors in Lincolnshire began strike action yesterday after failing to reach an agreement with the county council over their rate of pay.

Trade union Unite said the 58 health visitors have lost more than £2,000 a year since they were transferred from the NHS to the county council in October 2017 as they have not received a pay increase for two years.

The union also said it was ‘seriously’ concerned about the downgrading of the health visitors’ professional status.

Unite regional officer, Steve Syson, said: ‘We believe it to be the first time that the county’s health visitors will have taken strike action in defence of their pay and professional standards.’

The strike action will last until the end of today with further stoppages planned for later this month.