Workers at Coventry's Massey Ferguson tractor plant have voted overwhelmingly to strike over the decision to shut the factory with the loss of 900 jobs.

Danny Carrigan, national officer for the Amicus trade union, said the workforce at the Banner Lane plant had voted four-to-one in favour of industrial action.

Agco, the US firm which runs Massey, announced in June that the Coventry plant would close next year and production would be switched to France.

Last Thursday, staff voted against accepting a redundancy offer made by Agco.

The plant is due to close next June

Results of another ballot over strike action, among members of the Transport and General Workers Union, will be known on Friday.

On Wednesday, Mr Carrigan said Amicus had now arranged a further meeting with Agco directors to discuss concerns over compensation and severance pay.

"Let's hope Agco see sense and make an improved offer so we can avoid unnecessary strike action," he said.

He added that workers were "particularly incensed that they will lose out on some of their pension entitlement because the factory is closing."

Agco, the world's third largest manufacturer of farm machinery, has said the closure is part of a "major manufacturing rationalisation plan" in Europe.

It maintains the factory cannot compete with cheaper imports from Europe, and is only running at 50% of its capacity.

However, union leaders claim the plant is successful and has a full order book.