MINI plant workers will stage a second protest outside the Cowley factory after BMW bosses refused to keep its final salary scheme open.

Staff will form picket lines from midday to 3pm tomorrow outside the main entrance on the Eastern Bypass Road.

It comes after talks yesterday between Unite and the German carmaker hit a brick wall, with the plant bosses refusing to 'explore options' to keep the occupational pension scheme.

Workers union Unite said the company had refused 'to engage meaningfully' and 'sleepwalking into industrial action'.

It comes as the an industrial action ballot enters its final week after workers were offered a one-off pension payment of £7,000.

Trade union Unite said the closure of the BMW occupation pension scheme could see some of the car firm's UK workforce lose up to £160,000 in retirement income.

The ballot involves workers in Cowley, Farnborough, Hams Hall and Swindon and closes on Friday, March 31.

Unite national officer Tony Murphy said: "BMW Group’s continued refusal to discuss options for keeping the pension scheme open raises questions about how serious the carmaker is about resolving this dispute.

"BMW bosses’ state they are willing to negotiate seriously, but refuse to talk about anything which isn’t on their agenda.

"It’s like having a conversation with brick wall and unless BMW signals a willingness to discuss our members’ concerns there is little point in the talks continuing.

"BMW is sleepwalking into industrial action. I’d urge the management to wake up, recognise the depth of anger and negotiate a settlement which is good for the business and good for the workforce."