STAFF at a Hyndburn chemical plant are to go on strike next week in a dispute over working hours.

Workers at William Blythe Ltd, in Church, voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action after claiming the firm's bosses tried to make them work weekends.

The 52 workers involved, out of a total workforce of around 120, are members of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU).

They are due to take picket lines next Thursday, but the union is hopeful that a settlement will be reached when it meets with company bosses next week.

Cathy Rudderford, regional industrial organiser for the TGWU, said: "The company wants to change the workers' shifts to include weekends.

"An offer was made to our members which they felt was unacceptable because the changes would cause great disruption to their lives, but would not offer them a great deal more money.

"When our members refused to accept the offer the company decided to give them 60 days notice to change, which is not enough legal notice.

"We felt we had no option but to ballot for industrial action and the vote was overwhelmingly in favour."

A spokeswoman for William Blythe Ltd, said: "We are in negotiations with the union and we have every hope that we will resolve the matter, which is to do with a change in working patterns, amicably."