Talks are set to begin tomorrow in a bid to avert further strikes by junior doctors.

Staff at Newham University Hospital joined colleagues from across the country in walking out for 24 hours yesterday morning, returning to work at 8am today.

Now further talks are to take place to try and break the deadlock between the Government and doctors over a new contract.

A spokesman for the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) said talks would resume tomorrow and continue on Friday.

If no resolution is found, there will be a 48-hour stoppage and the provision of emergency care only from 8am on Tuesday, January 26.

On Wednesday, February 10 there will be a full withdrawal of labour from 8am to 5pm.

The long-running dispute centres on changes to medics’ pay and working conditions and the basis for the current round of negotiations is the Government’s offer from early November, including an 11 per cent rise in basic pay.

But this is offset by plans to cut the number of hours on a weekend for which junior doctors can claim extra pay for unsocial hours.