Hundreds of union members at the Port of Dover have started their second strike.

They walked out at 7am and are now picketing the docks and Harbour House - Dover Harbour Board's headquarters - on the seafront.

But this latest strike will not last as long as originally planned.

It had been expected it would be a three-day walkout, going on until 7am Sunday.

But the union has now said it will finish at mid-day on Saturday.

Dover Harbour Board says the port will continue to operate a full ferry schedule during as it did during the first two-day strike last week.

Chief executive at the port Bob Goldfield has called the action "counter-productive".

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The industrial action is in protest at the board's decision to privatise 190 jobs, including mooring, trailer handling and security.

Unite union members voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, with more than 83 per cent in favour.

Unite says it does not take strike action lightly and is still prepared to negotiate over the best way of protecting its members’ jobs.

Jane Jeffery, Unite regional industrial organiser, said: “This is the second strike our members are taking part in and they are determined to protect their terms and conditions of employment.

“The workers are angry that the company has done nothing to help resolve the situation and now feel they have no choice but to take strike action to defend their livelihoods."