A 48-hour strike is underway by offshore oil and gas workers in the North Sea.

Hundreds of employees from energy services firm Wood Group are taking part in industrial action over plans to cut pay and allowances by up to 30%.

A previous 24-hour strike took place on 26 July, followed by a series of three-hour stoppages on platforms owned by multi-national oil company Shell .

Meetings were held this week between unions Unite, RMT and the company in an effort to end the dispute.

Both unions offered to suspend industrial action if the company agreed to remove its current proposals over pay and conditions to allow for further consultation and negotiation. However Unite said the Wood Group refused the offer.

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Further demonstrations are being held at Wood Group's Aberdeen headquarters and the striking workers have received declarations of support from trade unionists across the globe, including those working in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

Unite's regional officer, John Boland, said: "We are extremely disappointed that Wood Group has decided to continue its attack on the pay and allowances of offshore workers. We repeat our call for proper consultation and negotiation.

"Industrial action is always a last resort and throughout this dispute we have constructively sought to find a resolution. We need to look forward and work towards a sustainable solution."

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash added: "After savage redundancies and attacks on workload and working conditions this group of offshore workers have been told that they are going to be railroaded into accepting pay cuts of up to 30%. They have chosen not to bend the knee, they have chosen to stand up and fight.

"The unions remain available for serious and meaningful talks."

(LM/CD)