BUS drivers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in pursuit of a wage claim.

In a secret ballot, drivers at York bus company First voted by 205 to ten in favour of the walkout, and now the city faces the prospect of Bank Holiday transport misery.

Thursday and the following Saturday are likely to be the first strike days.

Only Park and Ride services and contracted school buses are guaranteed to run during the action, which will hit the third day of the city's Ebor racing festival.

First normally puts on buses for the thousands of racegoers who travel to Knavesmire, but the company said these services were now in doubt.

The dispute has been caused over wages, with drivers looking for a basic rate of £8 an hour. Management said this was an "unacceptable demand".

Unions have set down 17 strike dates throughout August, September and early October. It is understood that First will try to run services with the help of managers from across the company.

Peter Edwards, commercial manager at First, said: "We remain hopeful that we will come to some solution. However, if that is not the case, we need to stress that contracted services will operate.

"We will draw upon our resources from other parts of the group. We are disappointed with the result, but we are going to explore our options with the trade union."