WORKERS at Land Rover are to ban overtime as part of industrial action in a dispute over pay.

Union members will also withdraw flexible working time arrangements in the New Year unless the row is resolved.

But union leaders pulled back from calling workers at the company's plant in Solihull, West Midlands, out on strike even though they voted in favour of stoppages.

Duncan Simpson, Amicus national officer, said: "The fact that the trade unions have not implemented an all-out strike demonstrates our willingness to talk to resolve the issue.

"We would now call upon the company to make a similar positive response."

Unions are pressing for an increase in an offer of 6.5 per cent over two years and said they want parity with employees at Jaguar. Both firms are owned by Ford.

The overtime ban will start next Monday and union leaders will meet in the New Year to consider their next move.

Dave Osborne, national officer of the Transport and General Workers Union, said: "We reiterate our desire to reach a negotiated settlement and we call on the company to re-open negotiations to avert industrial action."

A spokeswoman for Land Rover said: "We have made it clear that we remain available to meet the unions to clarify the points of the company's final offer."

About 4,000 vehicles are built every week at the Solihull plant, which employs 8,500 workers.