NHS staff walked out in protest against a government "attack on pay".

Doctors and midwives at Watford General Hospital and Barnet Hospital, which serve people living in Borehamwood, formed picket lines with signs and banners asking for "fair pay".

The NHS workers, with Unison, are taking action over the government’s decision not to implement the Independent Pay Review Body’s recommendation of a one per cent pay increase for all NHS staff.

Ministers offered NHS staff a one per cent increase, but only for those without automatic progression-in-the-job rises.

The union voted to hold a four-hour strike from 7am until 11am today.

From tomorrow to Friday, October 17, members of both hospitals will be taking action short of strike action by working to rule and taking their contractual and statutory breaks.

One Watford midwife in the picket line said: "This is the first time midwifes have gone on strike. It's all because our one per cent pay rise has been taken away.

"They are attacking our pay again. All we want is fair pay."

The trust in charge of Watford General, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, has said its services will not be affected by the industrial action.