Towering building site cranes stood silent yesterday as operators launched a first wave of strike action on pay — immediately forcing bosses to the negotiating table.

Members of construction union Ucatt struck a defiant tone on picket lines in London and Sheffield aimed at getting employer HTC to agree to talks.

Strikers at the big Nova Victoria site in the capital caused huge disruption by blocking deliveries shortly after the start of a critical operation to install a load-bearing block.