BANK holiday travellers could find themselves caught up in chaos at Newcastle Airport after ground staff voted to strike yesterday.

Check-in employees and other workers at the airport, employed by the agency Groundstar, have voted for a two-day stoppage from midday Thursday, August 21, if talks fail to reach an agreement.

The 152 staff with the Transport and General Workers' Union have rejected a three per cent pay offer and balloted for strike action after negotiations with Groundstar reached deadlock.

Further talks will take place between the two sides tomorrow but, if this fails, many holidaymakers could face delays during the airport's busiest time of year.

The two-day stoppage would run into the bank holiday weekend and then be followed by an immediate overtime ban.

Ground staff from other companies have been asked not to take on work carried out by Groundstar.

Despite assurances that the airport should operate as normal in the event of the strike, it looks likely that travellers with some companies will face delays.

Joe Keith, regional industrial organiser with the union, said: "These talks were planned last week, before the ballot was announced, so they are more contingency talks than a response to the ballot. But we want to try and resolve this properly.

"If the talks fail, and this hasn't been resolved, then industrial action will kick off at midday, August 21."

About 400,000 travellers are estimated to pass through the airport's doors in August.

Groundstar and Newcastle Airport both maintained they had contingency plans in place that could minimise disruption.

A spokesman for Groundstar said: "We are disappointed by the result of the ballot, but would like to stress we are continuing to talk to the union to reach a successful resolution of this matter, including returning for further discussions this Thursday.