Four hundred tanker drivers at P&O Trans European, who deliver petrol and fuel supplies on contract for Shell, have voted to take strike action over pay.

A total of 80% voted in favour of taking the action which could grind Shell fuel supplies to a halt.

They rejected a pay offer of 2.5% according to Andrew Dodgson, Press Officer for the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU).

The TGWU said they had 28 days in which to enact the strike, meaning they must either strike or accept any proposed pay within that time.

The offer from P&O was considered low compared to the 4.5% to 5% made to their counterparts in the industry.

Since negotiations began in January the union asked for an 8% pay rise.

Job responsibility

The union said this was to take account of their low pay increases year on year and the danger and responsibility of the job.

Workers annual earnings are £23,000 but the TGWU said others in the industry are getting between £25,000 and £30,000.

The depots which will be affected are Buncefield in Hemel Hempstead at Hertfordshire, Shell Haven in Thurrock in Essex, and Avonmouth in Bristol, as well as others at Plymouth, Hythe in Southampton, Haverfordwest, Cardiff, Killinghome and Kingsbury in the Midlands, Stanlow in Cheshire, Grangemouth, Aberdeen and Inverness.

P&O Trans European was notified this afternoon.

It is not the first time the company has faced strike action.

Last September 70 employees of the company delivering chemicals voted to hold strikes.

They complained new contracts would lead to wage cuts.