Insurance row hits Coastguard cover

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Volunteers from Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, West Wales - the team at the centre of the dispute - are due to meet the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on Thursday evening in a bid to resolve the issue.

The team withdrew cover from midnight and said other teams were "dropping out left, right and centre".

They have been joined in their strike action by Penrhyn, St Davids, Broadhaven and Littlehaven, also in Pembrokeshire; five stations in Gower, Swansea; five in the Solway sector, west Scotland; and two stations in the Severn sector, covering the Bristol Channel.

Anthony Rogers, a member of the Fishguard team, said: "We expect this kind of response to go on day by day - teams are dropping out left, right and centre."

But he said they would go straight back to work if the MCA could guarantee insurance cover if they were disabled on duty.

The dispute revolves around a colleague who they claim lost his job after being injured during a rescue four years ago and has not been adequately compensated.

Mr Rogers said that Brian MacFarlane, who worked as a social worker before he was injured, is now classed as partially disabled.

"We have realised, with a heavy heart, it's a simple question of whether we provide commitment to the MCA or to our families, and make sure they are protected," he said.

"If we are injured, our livelihoods would be at risk, and our families would be at risk."