Industrial relations: BBC news strike to disrupt weekend programmes

Presenters including Radio Five Live's Nicky Campbell and TV newsreaders Fiona Bruce and Huw Edwards have joined in the action, which has led to the scrapping of popular programmes and forced editors on to the air.

The general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, Jeremy Dear, said: "We are having a significant impact on news and current affairs programmes, demonstrating the depth of anger at the pensions proposals. "The strike is incredibly solid and the impact will grow over the course of the next two days."

Mr Dear said 95 per cent of journalists in the World Service newsroom in central London were on strike and he described the atmosphere on picket lines as "incredibly determined".

Members of the NUJ began their 48-hour stoppage at midnight on Thursday, immediately mounting picket lines across the country, including Bush House, Broadcasting House and TV Centre in London, claiming that camera operators, engineers and video editors belonging to the broadcasting union Bectu refused to cross pickets.

The union is planning another 48-hour strike on November 15 and 16, with threats of further disruption over Christmas.

Writing on his blog yesterday, BBC director general Mark Thompson said: "It has never been more important to ensure the BBC is spending every penny of licence fee payers' money wisely and delivering the quality programmes and services audiences want.

"We believe the current pension proposals are realistic and affordable, and will provide fair pension provision for BBC staff for the future."

In a message to staff later he said: "It is always a matter of regret when there is any disruption to our services to the public and that is why I have apologised to our viewers, listeners and online users this morning.

"I recognise of course the right of NUJ members to conduct legal strike action. But I would like to take this opportunity to thank the vast majority of staff who have chosen to come to work today and in particular to thank everyone who is working hard to ensure that, despite the strike, the BBC is still able to provide the public with local, national and international news on TV, radio and the web."

Lucy Adams, BBC director of business operations, admitted the dispute did not seem likely to be settled soon, adding: "It's quite difficult to see at the moment quite how we're going to resolve this."

She refused to criticise major presenters whose absence seriously disrupted the BBC's output, saying: "Individuals have a right to strike and they have a right to follow their conscience and not cross a picket line."