Workers voted 176 to 27 in favour of strike action

Engineers and maintenance workers in the Rail Maritime and Transport Union decided by 176 votes to 27 in favour of industrial action.

RMT leader Bob Crow said strike dates would be set on Friday if no progress was made in the dispute.

The workers are in dispute with Eurostar over pay, travel concessions and working arrangements.

The company have so far failed to make any move on outstanding issues and this decisive vote underlines just how frustrated our members have become RMT

It was likely Eurostar customer service staff would be called out at the same time, Mr Crow added.

Those workers took strike action last month in a separate dispute over pay differentials between employees in London and Kent.

"The company have so far failed to make any move on outstanding issues and this decisive vote underlines just how frustrated our members have become," Mr Crow said.

He said Eurostar had "arrogantly dismissed" the earlier customer service staff strike "as impotent".

"Eurostar should now step back and address the real concerns our members have over unfair pay structures and other outstanding issues," Mr Crow said.

No strike date has been set so there is no need for passengers to worry Eurostar

The RMT would seek the support of "sister unions" in France and Belgium, he added.

Peace talks between the rail union and Eurostar are expected on Thursday.

A spokesman for Eurostar said that if industrial action did go ahead it would be "business as usual" because of extensive contingency plans.

"We are disappointed but talks are due to be held tomorrow and we are hopeful they will be constructive," he said.

"No strike date has been set so there is no need for passengers to worry."