Aston Martin was recently sold by Ford

Members of the Transport and General Workers Union voted in favour of strike action after rejecting a two-year pay deal worth up to 6.75%.

The union, which has 656 members at the Gaydon plant, said its members were concerned about many workers being paid less than colleagues for the same job.

The company was recently sold by Ford to UK businessman David Richards.

The deal was worth 4% in the first year and inflation plus 0.5% in the second year, plus a "merit" payment of an average of 2.25%, the union said.

'Deep-seated problems'

The result of a ballot by Amicus members at the plant is due to be announced next Thursday.

Des Quinn, the T&G's regional organiser, said: "The negotiations that took place previously were very difficult and conducted whilst the sale of the company was imminent.

"The agreement that was finally struck did not, in the members' view, remove deep-seated and inherent problems with the current grading structure."

He added that he hoped to resolve the situation through negotiation.