Junior doctors have announced they will stage a full, 20-hour walkout in April after the Health Secretary imposed new contracts.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said today that it would be escalating the industrial action after the government's "continued refusal" to re-enter talks on controversial contracts.

March 10: WATCH: National Health Singers join St George's junior doctors on the picket line

March 9: Junior doctors from Croydon University Hospital on the picket line over Jeremy Hunt's decision to force new contract

March 8: Morale is low at St George's Hospital after junior doctor contract imposition, chief executive admits

Junior doctors will now withdraw their service from 8am until 5pm on Tuesday, April 26 and Wednesday, April 27, a total of 20 hours. 

The BMA has repeatedly claimed that the contracts imposed by the department of health are "unsafe" and would cause them to be overworked.

Dr Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctor committee chair, said: "No junior doctor wants to take this action but the government has left us with no choice. 

"In refusing to lift imposition and listen to junior doctors’ outstanding concerns, the government will bear direct responsibility for the first full walkout of doctors in this country.

"The government is refusing to get back around the table and is ploughing ahead with plans to impose a contract junior doctors have no confidence in and have roundly rejected."

The department of health has not yet responded to the latest news, but did comment when junior doctors announced further strikes in February.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "Further strike action is completely unnecessary and will mean tens of thousands more patients face cancelled operations – over a contract that was 90 per cent agreed with the BMA and which senior NHS leaders including Simon Stevens have endorsed as fair and safe.

"The new contract will mean an average 13.5 per cent basic pay rise, and will bring down the maximum number of hours doctors can work.

"We urge junior doctors to look at the detail of the contract and the clear benefits it brings."