Junior doctors in England to strike for 72 hours

Junior doctors in England have voted overwhelmingly to strike over pay, the British Medical Association (BMA) has said.

They are planning a "full 72-hour walkout in March" but as yet no dates have been confirmed.

More than 98% voted in favour of striking.

In a statement, the BMA said: "The results are in and members have delivered a huge mandate - with the highest-ever number of junior doctors voting for strike action and a record turnout. A huge thank you to all of those who voted."

Turnout was about 77.5%, with almost 37,000 junior doctors out of around 47,700 of those who are eligible, taking part in the ballot.

The BMA says that junior doctors have "no option but to take action".

"While workload and waiting lists are at record highs, junior doctors' pay has been cut by more than a quarter since 2008," the BMA said in a statement.

"A crippling cost-of-living crisis, burnout and well below inflation pay rises risk driving hard-working doctors out of their profession at a time when we need them more than ever".