Court ushers in East Sussex have voted to boycott an open day at Hastings Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

The action is in support of a two-year pay dispute with East Sussex Magistrates' Courts Committee.

The ushers, members of the Association of Magisterial Officers union, pledged any action would not put people at risk.

The ushers, who also act as security officers, said they were the lowest-paid members of court staff but were vulnerable to aggressive behaviour.

Union officials said members were bitterly disappointed at a recent appeal hearing when the committee agreed the existing three-point pay scale should be extended to a five-point scale, but placed the additional grades at the bottom of the salary scale.

The union claims this decision downgrades the payment rate for the job.

After the meeting, 88 per cent of members voted in a formal ballot in favour of the action.