University staff have voted in favour of striking in a dispute over pay.

The ballot by members of the University and College Union and Unison at Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University today.

More than 60 per cent of UCU who voted for strike action and a 77 per cent back action short of a strike.

The ballot opened last month after a pay dispute.

UCU head of higher education, Michael MacNeil, said: “This result is a reflection of our members’ anger at year after year of real terms pay cuts, and the fact that the employers can clearly afford to pay more than the miserly 1% offered this year.

“The ball is now firmly in the employers’ court and we urge them to agree to meet us for urgent talks to resolve the dispute.

"Strike action is always a last resort, but we will be working closely with our sister trade unions to coordinate any plans.

"Without meaningful negotiations, aimed at addressing our members’ concerns, disruption in universities would seem inevitable.”

Results from Unite trade union’s vote is expected on Monday.