HUNDREDS of workers at an Asda distribution depot are to stage a three-day strike after attempts to resolve a pay row failed, it was announced last night.

Members of the GMB union at the depot in Washington, Tyne and Wear, were due to walk out at midnight after earlier voting by 3-1 in favour of industrial action.

The union said its 530 members had been offered a ten per cent pay rise, but only if they gave up the right to collective bargaining, which they refused.

GMB official Mark Wilson said: "The strike will be solid and will impact on Asda stores across the North of England.

"Asda will have to improve its offer. The company need to get back to the negotiating table and sort out a deal with the members."

A spokesman for Asda said: "We're disappointed, but we've already put contingency plans in place and customers won't notice a thing.

"Even at full capacity, the depot only handles around six per cent of our non-fresh food distribution

"We're happy to discuss concerns face-to-face and see no need for this action."

Asda said it had offered a pay rise of 7.75 per cent over two years, backdated to January, which was well above inflation and any other deal locally. It added that about a third of workers at the depot had voted to strike.