More than 40 journalists from the Southern Daily Echo were today due to begin a two-day strike over pay.

National Union of Journalists members at the Southampton-based paper last week announced plans to walk out, saying that they were unhappy with the company’s offer of an overall increase of 2.5 per cent.

The union says membership at the Newsquest title has increased since the decision to strike was made, and 44 staff were due to stay away from their desks today and tomorrow.

Members plan to picket the paper’s Redbridge headquarters and hand out leaflets in the town.

Echo editor-in-chief Ian Murray said the paper would be published as normal, with no changes to the edition structure or pagination.

Sally Churchward, spokesperson for the chapel, said: “We have made it clear that we would like to come back round the table but there hasn’t been the will on their part.

“The company needs to make us a better offer than the below-inflation offer it has made so far.”

Ian said: “The management’s position remains the same.

“It is very sad that it has come to this after we had worked extremely hard with the union to reach an amicable conclusion.”