Greater Anglia services in the region are running as usual today despite the second day of strike action by guards.

The rail company was given approval to use temporary conductor/guards during the two-day strike by RMT members which started on Wednesday morning.

A statement on the Greater Anglia website said: 'Greater Anglia will be running a full service during RMT strikes on Wednesday, November 8 and Thursday, November 9.

'60pc of Greater Anglia trains do not have conductors. These are mainly commuter trains into London Liverpool Street from Essex, Cambridge, Hertfordshire and Ipswich.

'Contingency staff have been trained to the same standard as other conductors in order to operate the rest of the service. Greater Anglia remains open to talks with the RMT in order to avert further industrial action.'

Picket lines have been mounted outside stations and the union said support was again solid.

'The union salutes the members who are standing firm this morning for a safe and accessible railway for all,' said RMT general secretary Mick Cash. 'Our members know what is at stake and are not prepared to abandon the disabled, the vulnerable and women travelling alone to their fate on a railway run solely for profit.

'Social media shows that public support is flooding in as our communities choose to stand by their guards against the financially and politically motivated drive to throw safety-critical staff off our trains.'

The strike will end at midnight on Thursday.