More than 10 000 of the UK's ambulance workers to strike during festive period over working conditions

More than 10 000 ambulance workers across England and Wales will strike on 21 December and 28 over pay and conditions, the GMB union said on Tuesday, adding to widespread industrial action across Britain's health service over the Christmas period.

The union said its members, including paramedics, emergency care assistants and calls handlers, at nine regional ambulance services would walk out.

Workers across a wide range of sectors are currently taking, or planning to take, industrial action in Britain as inflation outstrips wage increases, and with the economy likely already in a recession.

"The last thing they want to do is take strike action, but the government has left them with no choice," GMB's National Secretary Rachel Harrison said.

The Unite trade union also said that more than 1 600 ambulance workers would strike on 21 December over a pay dispute.

Britain's state-run National Health Service is already grappling with planned industrial action by thousands of nurses after the government refused to meet demands for pay hikes.

Chairman of the governing Conservative Party Nadhim Zahawi said on Sunday the government was looking at bringing in the military to help keep public services running if key workers took strike action.