SOUTHAMPTON council strikes are set to rumble on after union members voted overwhelmingly to reject the authority's latest proposals on pay cuts.

Almost 600 members of Unite and Unison voted by a majority of four to one to continue their industrial action over moves by the ruling Tories to ease budget pressures by cutting workers' wages by up to 5.5 per cent.

The long-running dispute, which has crippled some services as bin men, street cleaners, social workers, traffic wardens and other workers all down tools, is now set to enter its 13th week.

Today's vote came after a potential breakthrough package of proposals was negotiated by union and council leaders, which it had been hoped could have seen strikes suspended while details were hammered out.

Full reaction in Thursday's Daily Echo