The Scottish Government has stepped in to oversee talks aimed at resolving a dispute over rest break arrangements for ambulance staff.

Efforts to reach a deal over compensation for paramedics forced to work through their breaks have so far proved unsuccessful.

The Scottish Ambulance Service wants to end the practice whereby paramedics are not dispatched to emergencies during their break time.

Recent controversies, such as the death of Mandy Mathieson, 33, who had a cardiac arrest in Tomintoul, Moray, in 2010, have caused public anger over the policy.

Staff want to be compensated for working during break times to the same level as other emergency workers and union have already rejected several pay offers.

The government has now stepped in to oversee negotiations after the latest deal was rejected on Friday.

Thousands of staff voted to reject the offer of a one-off £1500 payment, a £100 payment if the rest break is disturbed and a further £100 if they don't get a replacement break within seven hours.

An interim arrangement, offering staff £100 if they miss their rest break because of an emergency call, will be extended for another week while talks continue.

IN DETAIL

• Ambulance staff reject pay offer
• Ambulance staff balloted on rest breaks deal