Workers whose jobs are due to be privatised next year have started a 48-hour strike at the Port of Dover.

Dover Harbour Board is transferring 190 mooring, trailer handling and security jobs to private contractors from February 1.

The board's Chief Executive Bob Goldfield says he is confident the port will remain open, and says other staff, management and contractors will carry out the work that would normally be done by the strikers.

Up to 200 members of the union UNITE, and their supporters, have gathered outside the Eastern Docks to form a picket-line. They say they expect their action to have a serious effect on the port.

The strike started at 7am, and is due to continue until 7am on Thursday.

Mr Goldfield had invited ACAS to try to arrange talks to help settle the dispute.

A meeting took place on Friday between ACAS and Dover Harbour Board management.

Mr Goldfield said the request to ACAS to act as a go-between was a demonstration of the board’s willingness and flexibility to consult on terms and conditions for the staff transfers.

“For the sake of our workforce, someone must break this unnecessary impasse and we are taking the initiative to do just that by bringing in ACAS,” said Mr Goldfield.

“This will not be arbitration but a move that hopefully will see both parties engaged in meaningful discussions and should be a major step forward.”