FUEL-tanker drivers have united in defiance of plans to make them redundant, voting overwhelmingly to strike next month.

Members of Unite employed by Hoyer Petrolog, based at the Stanlow oil refinery in Cheshire, backed action by 96 per cent.

The union said it had given Hoyer a final opportunity to withdraw redundancy proposals but now had “no option” other than to announce strike dates.

Unite gave notice of a total of 14 days of strike action in November, predicting that they would cause considerable disruption to fuel supplies for road users and the aviation sector in northern England.

Regional officer Steve Gerrard said: “Unite’s members have delivered a stunning mandate in favour of industrial action.

“Despite Unite giving Hoyer every opportunity to resolve this dispute through negotiations, it has refused to do so and, as a last resort, Unite has announced strike dates.”