JOURNALISTS at a North-East newspaper group were on strike yesterday, as part of an ongoing pay dispute.

It was the first of two 24-hour strikes to be staged by members of the National Union of Journalists at the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal Limited, which publishes The Journal, Evening Chronicle, Sunday Sun and Herald and Post series.

The union is asking for a four per cent increase across the board. Will Mapplebeck, father of the union chapel, said: "Our aim was to draw attention to our wage situation and also the derisory pay offer management have made.

"I had several members of the public coming up to me and saying they could not believe how much we were paid."

He said the entrance to Thomson House, the group's head office in Newcastle, had been picketed, creating "great inconvenience and embarrassment for management".

Mr Mapplebeck added: "We are always open to further talks with management, but there is no way my members will settle for the current deal."

Steve Brown, managing director of Newcastle Chronicle and Journal, said in a statement: "It is completely regrettable that the NUJ have chosen to strike, particularly when only 39 per cent of the total bargaining unit voted for the principle of a strike.

"We have fully explained the background as to why the pay award has been kept very tight this year, something which has applied to the other 650 people in the company.

"The NUJ have also conveniently forgotten the substantial investment we've made in editorial salaries over the last 18 months."

Another 24-hour strike is planned for Thursday.