BBC staff begin strike action

A 24-hour walkout by thousands of BBC journalists and technicians began at midnight in the biggest strike to hit the corporation in more than a decade.

Several programmes was one of many due to be disrupted by the strike, the biggest to hit the corporation for more than a decade.

News programmes will be badly affected by the stoppage which was being held in protest at controversial plans to axe 4,000 jobs.

On BBC television, the normal Breakfast programme screened a shortened live bulletin followed by pre-recorded items.

The National Union of Journalists, BECTU and Amicus said they expected 11,000 workers to join the walkout.