Stoppages will take place at four Tesco distribution centres on various dates from 16th December after Unite union members voted to strike over pay.

Unite members at the supermarket chain’s Didcot and Doncaster depots – which include HGV drivers and warehouse workers – will begin an initial 48-hour stoppage at 6am on Thursday 16th December, followed by a further five-day stoppage starting on Monday 20th December.

The two sites will then see a further 48-hour stoppage beginning on Thursday 30th December and another three-day stoppage from Wednesday 5th January.

Unite members at the Antrim and Belfast centres will began an all-out continuous strike on Thursday 16th December, unless an improved pay offer is made.

Workers voted to take industrial action after being offered a 4% pay rise which, according to Unite, is a pay cut in real terms.

Tesco said that the offer was fair and one of the highest awards made in its distribution business in the last 25 years. The company also said it was confident it could “deliver Christmas” and had put contingency plans in place to “help mitigate any impacts.”