ANGRY health care assistants from Bolton will stage a demonstration next week demanding equal pay.

They will travel to Eccles on June 12 to lobby the Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health Trust Board meeting.

A representative from Unison, representing 98 health care assistants, is hoping to speak to health bosses at the meeting. The dispute dates back to February when the Bolton trust merged with Salford and Trafford. The Bolton assistants claim they are paid less money than their colleagues.

Stuart Carter, from Unison, said: "We have been in meetings with the new management and they have not offered a penny." Bolton staff were told there was not enough money to put them on an equal footing. Unison also claims they are paid much less than the national average.

"We need to adress the issues as soon as possible. We have decided to travel to the board meeting to raise the issues."