Workers on the Tyne and Wear Metro system have voted to go on strike after rejecting a pay offer.

The result means the system will be hit by a 48-hour-stoppage on Thursday and Friday, followed by a series of strikes throughout August.

Twenty-three control room workers voted to reject the revised pay offer put forward by Metro operator Nexus.

The action will coincide with a visit to Tyneside by the judges who will decide if the joint Newcastle-Gateshead bid will win the title Capital of Culture in 2008.

'Generous deal'

The latest pay offer initially averted a one-day strike on 25 July, but the union Unison then recommended its members should reject the latest offer.

The problem centres on five information service staff in the control room, who earn between �10,000 and �12,000.

Although the latest pay-offer, but the unions says it remains open to a renewed offer.

Nexus had said the new offer was a "generous deal" which focused on increased productivity and substantial salary increases.