WORKERS at one of the most famous companies in Witham are striking today over pay.

Manufacturers at Crittall Windows were offered a three per cent pay rise of 25p per hour, however they feel it is time for a bigger rise.

Unite the Union is leading the strike, which started at 6am and will go on until end of play.

Steve Linger, who is leading the strike at Unite, said the workers should be taken into consideration and have a 50p rise.

He said: "Workers have voted to take strike action as it's a pay issue. They said they went six years without a pay rise and they think it's about time they had a significant rise in pay.

"Thousands of companies, including many in Witham, have already increased the minimum rate by 50p an hour, and we didn't think it was unreasonable for Crittall.

"The company is happy to offer bonuses but they never achieve it, we should be on the side of the workers."

The business in Freebournes Road has three centuries of history, beginning in 1849 at Bank Street Ironmongery in Braintree.

It has since become a global business.

Since the Brexit vote the business is operating in a climate subject to a lot of change.

Stuart Judge, managing director at Crittall Windows, said it was disappointing to hear of strike action at this time.

He said: "The business has worked very hard over the years to serve the community and its employees well, and this year, we proposed a very positive 3 per cent pay award to all staff.

"This, against the backdrop of an uncertain manufacturing and construction market, we feel was very positive, even more so as now we are post Brexit, there are other challenges that now face our export business.

"However, this has not met with the approval of a minority of staff, specifically those members of the Unite Union and as a result, the membership has chosen to take 24hr industrial action.

"This is understandably disappointing as this proposed action merely serves to undermine the excellent employee and working relationships the business has enjoyed for so very many years.

"We will continue to work with the membership and staff in parallel and hope that common sense prevails in the end."