WORKERS at AG Barr, which makes the Irn Bru soft drinks, began a series of strikes today as they fight pay cuts.

Shunter and truck drivers at the company’s Cumbernauld plant have rejected a 5 per cent pay offer earlier this year, and despite protracted negotiations and talks brokered by Acas, the employer has failed to improve on an offer less than half the rate of inflation.

A spokesperson for the drinks giant, which made £43.5 million in pre-tax profits last year and has £52.9m in net cash at the bank, said: “We made a pay offer that we believe is fair and competitive — in line with what has been agreed with our other employees.”