Offshore workers 'down tools' on Mariner platform

The initial phase of action started on Saturday morning

Workers on a North Sea platform say they are staging unofficial industrial action over poor working conditions.

They said they had stopped work at 07:00 on the Mariner platform, 95 miles (150km) east of Shetland.

It is part of one of the largest new offshore developments in UK waters for more than a decade.

Contractor Aker Solutions, which is working for operator Statoil, said it is aware of the situation and is investigating.

A spokesman said: "Aker Solutions has been made aware that some workers based at the Mariner field have chosen not to work today.

"The company has received no official notification of this activity and is looking into this matter."

Statoil declined to comment.

The initial refusal to work was expected to last four hours, with the possibility of another stoppage starting at 19:00.