Oil and gas workers have voted in favour of strike action over "swingeing" pay cuts on eight North Sea platforms.

A poll of 200 Unite union members at Wood Group found almost unanimous support for industrial action, with 99% voting to strike and 99.5% supporting other industrial action.

In a separate poll, 98.5% of RMT members came out in favour of action.

The ballots came after talks between the union and oil firm Wood Group broke down on Friday.

Unite claims Wood Group has refused to reconsider 30% pay cuts for workers on the eight Shell platforms.

The union's regional officer, John Boland, said: "Despite the best efforts of the full time officials and workforce shop stewards to broker a deal with the company, talks have failed to find an acceptable deal for the workforce.

"We now find ourselves forced down the route of industrial action and in the coming days the workforce will determine the timing and nature of that action. That said, we remain available for talks should the company wish to consider an alternative offer.

"However, any talks must respect the workers and especially with regards to exercising their democratic rights in a dispute situation. Therefore the move by Shell to engage a scab labour workforce through various agencies to cover any potential industrial action is extremely disturbing."

Jake Molloy, RMT regional organiser said: "After two rounds of redundancy, the imposition of an additional four to five weeks of work annually, forced to work a 3:3 rota, the increase in workload, and the restrictions on leave, this battered and bruised workforce are being told they have to accept all of this with a reduction in salary of anything from 10 to 30%.

"The workforce message is clear - 'enough is enough' - and it's little wonder we find ourselves in this situation."

Dave Stewart, CEO for Wood Group's eastern region business unit said the firm was "extremely disappointed" in the result of the ballot.

He said: "Reaching a resolution which meets our mutual goal of safeguarding these jobs in the North Sea now and in the future remains our commitment and we will continue to engage fully in discussions with our employees and the unions.

"We have listened to our employees in the consultation process and the terms and conditions offered are above the original proposal. At no point did the terms and conditions proposed include a sweeping 30% pay cut across those employees impacted.

"Around a third of those involved will experience no reduction to their base salary. The average reduction to base salary experienced by those employees involved in this consultation will be three per cent.

"We are committed to continuing to engage openly with our employees and the unions with a view to reaching a positive resolution."