MESSAGES of solidarity have poured in from trade unions for striking Shrewsbury building workers who are in court on Wednesday to appeal against their wrongful convictions after a national strike nearly 50 years ago.

The surviving Shrewsbury 24 pickets are fighting to clear their name in a two-day hearing at the Court of Appeal after they were criminalised for going out on strike in 1972.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) general secretary Chris Kitchen said: “We support the Shrewsbury 24 and wish them all the best.

“They have persisted with their campaign, just as we will persist with our campaign to win justice for mineworkers.”

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “The deep injustices perpetrated against working people by the state, including the Shrewsbury pickets, have been, quite simply, criminal.

“I’ve been so proud of all Unite has done throughout the nearly 50 years of the campaign to support the 24 in their fight for justice. Today, the truth must be heard.”

Transport unions TSSA and RMT also lent their support to the picketers.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “It’s time that this scandalous episode in British post-war history was brought to a conclusion that rights this wrong once and for all.”