About 18 coastguard teams have now withdrawn cover

The team at the centre of the dispute in Fishguard withdrew its services on Wednesday, following action taken by Broadhaven and Penrhyn coastguards.

Teams on Gower and from Porthcawl to Chepstow also joined the action, which is backed by teams in south west England and Scotland.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said contingencies were in place.

Meanwhile, Milford Haven and Swansea coastguards reported no incidents overnight.

The MCA, who met the Fishguard coastguard team on Thursday, stressed that other emergency services, including the RNLI, were still operating and said lives would not be put at risk.

Joining the Gower coastguard crews in the action from midnight were teams from the Cardiff sector, which includes Porthcawl, Llantwit Major, Barry, Penarth and Chepstow.

A large part of the south and west Wales coastline has been affected by the action.

The dispute also involves crews from the Severn area of England and the Solway sector in south-west Scotland. Altogether 21 crews out of 378 in the UK are taking action.

'Mixed feelings'

It centres on volunteer Brian MacFarlane, who damaged his knee while rescuing an animal from a cliff face four years ago.

The 38-year-old father subsequently lost his main job as a residential social worker, and claims he has not been given fair compensation.

But a spokesman for the MCA said it had paid Mr MacFarlane "substantial amounts".

"Payments also continue to be made to Mr MacFarlane from the Civil Service Injuries Scheme and the total package compensates him for loss of his previous full-time work," he added.

Fishguard coastguards said they had "mixed feelings" about withdrawing search and rescue cover, but said they had written to the MCA on 9 April asking for their concerns to be addressed within 10 days.

Brian MacFarlane was injured rescuing an animal four years ago

Station Officer John Davies said the chief coastguard had initially asked for a meeting after the deadline.

He said: "We said we would make ourselves available at any time within the 10 days but they did not seem able to do that. Fishguard coastguards are disappointed about this.

"We are on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, yet coastguard managers can not make a meeting to talk about such an important matter, within 10 days."

As a trade union we would not want to do anything which would undermine their position Mike Smith FBU

Mr Davies added that coastguard rescue officers were willing to risk themselves to save others, but not to put their families' welfare and financial wellbeing at risk.

The officers are technically part-time employees of the MCA for the period they are called out, but all hold regular employment and see themselves as volunteers.

A spokesman said the MCA was "deeply concerned" about the withdrawal of services, and had offered to set up a working group with the Fishguard coastguards to discuss their concerns.

"We don't want them to put themselves at risk and be heroes, but to get on with the job and rescue fellow citizens where they can.

Other coastguards teams have stopped in sympathy

"If by chance they are injured they will be compensated until they get better and can return to work."

The MCA has said it felt the action was premature, but contingencies were in place "to ensure the preservation and saving of life was not compromised."

It said the cover, where necessary, would draw upon the help of the fire and rescue service.

But the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said they had not been informed of any request and would not be happy for members to provide cover.

Mike Smith, FBU council member for Wales said of the coastguards: "Although they are not in a trade union and it is not a strike as such, they are nevertheless, in dispute.

"As a trade union we would not want to do anything which would undermine their position."

Mr Smith was also concerned whether firefighters had the right training to carry out coastal rescues.