A SECOND day of strikes hit Britain’s busiest container port yesterday as dockers continued to demand an end to pay offers that are significantly below soaring inflation.

The eight-day walkout at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk will see daily picket lines staffed until 10pm, said Unite, which represents the workers. 

The industrial action, which saw about 1,900 crane drivers, machine operators, stevedores and other workers down tools for the first time on Sunday, was described by the port as disappointing.

But the union noted that the latest wage offer from bosses — 7 per cent plus a £500 payment — falls short of rocketing double-digit price rises.

Unite national officer Robert Morton repeated his call for an inflation-busting pay rise, suggesting up to 12.3 per cent would be more acceptable.

The vital port, which was last hit by strikes in 1989, handles almost half of the country’s container trade and employs about 2,550 people, according to the union.