People will die because of the unprecedented four-day strike by junior doctors, senior doctors have warned.

It comes as junior doctors across Berkshire have gone on strike in a dispute about pay.

The British Medical Association, which organised the 96-hour walkout, is calling a 35 per cent pay rise.

Both Frimley and Berkshire healthcare trusts, which serves residents across Bracknell, Ascot and Wokingham, are warning the public to be vigilant and only attend emergency departments in genuine emergencies.

On Tuesday, junior doctors created a picket line outside the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading with one telling the News that a payrise would “make up for declining wages due to inflation”.

Drivers travelling along London Road, Reading, were heard tooting their horns at the group.

It comes as 350,000 appointments and operations are expected to be cancelled as a result of the largest industrial action in the NHS’s 75-year history. Officials have urged the public to only call 999 or attend A&E in genuine emergencies and to avoid anything ‘risky’.

Sources told MailOnline they are concerned the BMA is plotting further action around the three Bank Holidays in May, including for King Charles’ Coronation. The union has warned already that strikes may continue ‘all the way until the next General Election’, which is expected to take place in autumn 2024.

Asked on Good Morning Britain whether people would die as a ‘direct result’ of the strike action, Dr Hilary Jones said: “Yes, I believe they are because treatment will be delayed.

“If you’ve got one doctor there, trying to look after ten patients and they’re all acutely ill, you can’t get to them all at the same time.”

He warned that a heart attack patient will not receive the same care at hospital today that they would have had a week ago.

“You’re going to be in a queue with others in the same situation. This is disruptive, this is dangerous, it’s never been more dangerous,” Dr Jones said.

Dr Sumi Manirajan, deputy co-chair of the BMA’s junior doctors committee, said she ‘can’t guarantee that no lives will be put at risk’ but said 500 patients are currently dying each week while waiting for care.