Southampton hospital staff have taken to the streets to protest against what they see as pay discrimination.

More than 30 health workers from the city's hospitals marched through the centre of Winchester 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.

The policy also affects porters, technicians, housekeepers and other workers.

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

Workers are affected at many hospitals throughout Hampshire including The Mount at Bishopstoke, Andover War Memorial and mental health units, Tatchbury Mount, near Totton, and the Royal Hampshire County Hospital and Melbury Lodge, in Winchester.

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

She said: "I think the march went particularly well and we had good support from our colleagues in Southampton.

"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 turnout and the reception from the public and the level of support that has been shown."

Winchester MP Mark Oaten has put down 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 struggling with recruitment and need help living in this area."