Outside Wales' largest hospital, the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, junior doctors have been at the picket line since dawn.

Nearly a quarter of all junior doctors in Wales are employed by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

The health board says the impact on planned treatments and appointments is likely to be significant.

Image source, Getty Images

Health Minister Eluned Morgan says she understands the strength of feeling and also supports the right to strike.

But she says the 5% pay increase is at the limits of what the Welsh government is able to offer.

"To think more can be offered is unrealistic," she said previously.

"The only place we can go for more money is to cut it from other parts of the NHS and I'm not sure if the public would thank us for that."

Junior doctors in Wales "have been forced" to take the "difficult decision" to strike, the British Medical Association (BMA) says.

The union says that is because junior doctors have seen their pay drop by almost a third over the past 15 years.

Dr Oba Babs-Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey, from BMA Cymru Wales' junior doctors committee, said: "No doctor wants to strike, we had hoped the Welsh government had properly understood the strength of feeling amongst junior doctors in Wales.

"Sadly, their inaction over this matter has led us here today, demoralised, frustrated and angry.

"After years of undervaluing our lifesaving service we feel we've been left with no choice but to stand up for the profession and say enough is enough, we cannot and will not accept the unacceptable anymore."

This is the first time junior doctors in Wales have gone on strike.

Junior doctors in England staged a six-day walkout earlier this month.

That was the longest period of industrial action by NHS workers in its history.

Image source, Getty Images

A junior doctor is someone who has graduated from medical school but is yet to qualify as a consultant.

It is a broad term which can include include doctors with a decade of experience behind them.

They typically work in hospitals but it also includes those training to be GPs.

If you have a planned appointment, health bosses say you should still go to it unless you have been told otherwise.

The strike is expected to mainly affect hospitals, but some GP surgeries could also be impacted.

NHS bosses say emergency care will still be available.

For non-emergencies, people are being urged to use the 111 service, contact their GP or visit a pharmacy.

There are nearly 4,000 junior doctors in Wales, most of whom work in hospitals.

Health bosses say they won't know how many are taking part until the strike starts, but they are expecting significant disruption.

In the Cardiff and Vale health board area, where nearly a quarter of Wales' junior doctors work, hospital managers will need to cover 80% of their 1,000 shifts over the next three days.

Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) say the strike is a last resort to stop more junior doctors from leaving due to pay erosion.

Doctors in Wales have been given a 5% pay rise, but that is below the 6% recommended by the independent pay body.

NHS leaders say they know staff have not taken the decision lightly, while Health Minister Eluned Morgan says there is no more money to offer.

"The only place we can go for more money is to cut it from other parts of the NHS and I'm not sure if the public would thank us for that," Ms Morgan said.

Good morning and welcome to our live page.

We’ll be bringing you the latest updates as junior doctors in Wales begin a three-day walkout over a pay dispute.

Stay with us.