The public are warned to stay out of the sea this Bank Holiday weekend as coastguards prepare to strike over a long-running pay dispute.

Up to 700 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) staff are set to take part in the 48-hour strike action, which will begin at 7pm tonight and continue over what is expected to be the busiest weekend of the summer for coastal resorts.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said its members are angry at being paid less than the other emergency services.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS said coastguards, whose salaries start at £12,509, were seeking an extra £3,000 a year after their wages had been eroded in real terms by high inflation and low pay rises.

"Members have rightly grown angry at the scandalous refusal to pay them the same as other emergency service workers, and by the government's policy to cap public sector pay increases below inflation," Sermotka said.

"Strike action is a last resort for our members who provide an invaluable service in ensuring the safety of shipping in British waters," he said.

"The latest action could have been avoided if the government and the MCA hadn't continued with their refusal to negotiate a satisfactory outcome.

The union said staff have experienced real-terms pay cuts with pay rises averaging just 2.5% for most staff, and less than 1% for senior personnel.

Thousands of teachers, council workers and civil servants have already gone on strike this year over pay. With inflation at 4.4 percent, more than twice the Bank of England's target, the government has resisted their wage claims.

The MCA has said contingency plans were in place to ensure an emergency service was available during the strike, but urged the public to take extra care while on the sea, beach or cliffs.

Peter Cardy, the agency's chief executive, said: "This weekend our normal service will be affected by industrial action. Plans are in place to provide cover, but I am encouraging everybody working or playing on the sea or on the beach this Bank Holiday weekend to take extra care, and to take heed of our safety advice."

The MCA said the industrial action was being taken by people responsible for co-ordinating rescues, and the rescuers themselves would operate as normal.

Rescue helicopters will continue to fly, Royal National Lifeboat Institute boats will go out and volunteer coastguard rescue officers will be ready, the agency said.

The strike is the latest by public sector workers demanding higher wages to help meet rising household bills. Prime Minister Gordon Brown says pay rises must be modest to keep inflation under control.

The Met Office forecasts a mix of sun and rain for most areas this weekend, with temperatures hovering around 20 degrees Celsius.

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