AMBULANCE cover was maintained across Halton and Merseyside despite a 24-hour strike by about 100 technicians.

Management said paramedics successfully responded to about 300 calls during the first 10 hours of the industrial action last Thursday.

Staff who attended work were supported by volunteers drafted in from the St John Ambulance Service and regular crews from across the North West.

The Ambulance Service Union (ASU) called the strike after a ballot of its 200 technicians, who assist paramedics and administer some drugs. It follows months of negotiations in a pay row.

ASU representatives said they were preparing to go ahead with a further walkout tomorrow.

Steve Rice, branch secretary of the ASU,said:'We had 100 staff out over two shifts. We didn't set up picket lines because we didn't want people to feel they couldn't go into work.

'We didn't want to inflame the situation. We just asked our members not to turn up for work. We have put an offer to management that we want to talk to them in the morning.'

The ASU called the action because it fears a banded pay structure will leave technicians with 14% less pay.