Winchester hospital staff took to the streets to protest against what they see as pay discrimination.

More than 30 health workers from the Royal Hampshire County Hospital marched through the city centre with banners and placards on Saturday.

They are angry that the Government has given a cost-of-living allowance to nurses on higher pay grades while ignoring lower-paid members of the NHS such as care assistants.

They say the snub also affects porters, technicians, and housekeepers, among others.

The march was organised by the Winchester and Eastleigh Health Branch of the public sector union, Unison.

Staff are affected at many hospitals throughout Hampshire, including Southampton General, The Mount at Bishopstoke, Andover War Memorial and mental health units, Tatchbury Mount, near Totton, and Melbury Lodge, in Winchester.

Bev Appleyard, a healthcare assistant, and Unison steward, believes it was a successful event.

"I think the march went particularly well and we got good support from our colleagues in Southampton who joined us.

"We are going to fight this discrimination and we want a result from this.

"The Government should know better than to try and separate the workforce. Our work keeps getting harder and harder and yet we do not get any recognition for it."

The Department of Health has said that it has the situation under review.

Unison regional officer, Steve Akers, said: "I am extremely pleased with the turn-out and the reception from the public and the level of support that has been shown."

Winchester MP, Mark Oaten, has tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons calling on the Government to extend the cost-of-living allowance to care assistants and other support staff.

He said: "The hospital as we know it would not be able to operate without these key people.

"They are often the Cinderella part of the service.

"They are also struggling with recruitment and need help living in this area."