BARRISTERS have begun strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions, leading to delays in criminal cases.

Defendants and witnesses from Bolton are among those affected, with many cases due to be heard at Bolton Crown Court, Manchester Crown Court and Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court today postponed or rescheduled.

The cases include trials and sentences and the criminal lawyers are due to continue their walkout protest tomorrow.

No pickets were at Bolton Crown Court but dozens of barristers gathered at Crown Square in Manchester with placards highlighting their grievances.

They accused the Government of not listening to their concerns about the criminal justice system, and are angry that a proposed pay rise of 15 percent would not kick in immediately or apply to backlogged cases.

Speaking outside Manchester Crown Court barrister Rebecca Filletti said the criminal justice system is at "breaking point".

She added: “I work in excess of 18-hour days, I work weekends, I miss out on family things, and most of that work is work for which I don’t get paid and I feel I need to do to a good job for my clients.

“Today is the first day in my entire career I have not gone to court. I attend if I’m sick, I attend if I have got family commitments, and I would not have taken this decision lightly.

“The reason I have taken this decision is things need to change.”

Today's walkout is the first of 14 days of action planned over the next four weeks.

Two days’ strike action is expected this week, with an additional day added each week for the next three weeks.

Barristers will also refuse to accept new cases and carry out “return work” – stepping in and picking up court hearings and other work for colleagues whose cases are overrunning.

Kirsty Brimelow, vice chairwoman of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), which represents barristers in England and Wales, said: “The Criminal Bar Association has repeatedly warned the Government that the huge decline in real incomes at the criminal bar poses the most serious threat to the British legal system in decades.

“We have made our case over and over again to Government but our warnings continue to fall on deaf ears.

“They have no solution to saving the criminal justice system. This is a national crisis which is of Government making and it must be dealt with as a national emergency.

“We cannot allow further attacks on our profession when we know the reality of the crumbling courts and junior barristers, who walked away long before this action."

It is not believed fresh talks with the Government are planned.

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said: “It’s regrettable that the Criminal Bar Association is striking.

“I encourage them to agree the proposed 15percent pay rise, which would see a typical barrister earn around £7,000 more a year.

“Their actions will only delay justice for victims.”