Strike action which has been running since June 1 looks set to continue into a sixth week, it emerged today.

The National Union of Journalists is in dispute over pay with the owners of the Spalding Guardian and Lincolnshire Free Press, a bi-weekly in south Lincolnshire.

The union chapel has now agreed to run a further ten days on to the end of the current stoppage, which would take the dispute up to July 15.

The company, Welland Valley newspapers, which is owned by Johnston Press, has tabled an improved pay deal but the NUJ says the package for junior staff remains little better than ten years ago.

A union spokesman said: "We have held informal talks but this is getting us nowhere.

"There is a reasonable deal on the table but the lowest levels of pay are still what they were ten years ago and we have fears over the package which need to be allayed.

"We believe we are now starting to make it hurt, through the strike action - this is the only option we have got."

According to NUJ figures, trainee journalists on the paper earn £9,500, while qualified seniors with at least two years' experience earn £12,000.

NUJ members at the Guardian constitute 13 of the paper's 18 editorial staff.

John Broom, managing director of Welland Valley Newspapers, has been unavailable to comment.

Picket lines have been in place in Spalding and leafleting has taken place outside the offices of other newspapers in the group.

The newspapers are continuing to publish, despite the strike, using freelance staff.

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