CHESHIRE Police staff such as emergency call handlers and PCSOs will strike from 7am on New Year's Eve in a row with bosses over an end to overtime pay.

UNISON has organised the strike that will also involve crime scene investigators and detention officers.

The industrial action comes after Cheshire Police said it will not pay extra to staff who work on rest days.

Staff would usually get overtime for volunteering to work times like Christmas Day, or New Year's Day.

Unison said non-frontline staff will be asked to work rest days without overtime pay.

Maria Moss, regional organiser for UNISON north west, said: “I’ve rarely seen a group of staff who are so upset.

"Police staff work very hard and really need their rest days.

"The decision to strike has not been taken lightly or irresponsibly.

"The employer has been notified well in advance of the planned action and we will be open to agree contingency arrangements that ensure public safety.

“The changes to rest days are simply an attempt by Cheshire Police to make a saving at the cost of staff wellbeing.

"Bosses need to think again and ditch these damaging proposals.”